Business Rates: Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Debate
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Emma Lewell
Main Page: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)Department Debates - View all Emma Lewell's debates with the HM Treasury
Business Rates: Retail, Hospitality and Leisure
Emma Lewell Excerpts(1 day, 13 hours ago)
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Emma Lewell (South Shields) (Lab)
I thank my hon. Friend for his engagement so far on this issue. It will come as no surprise to him that we need a cut to VAT and the maximum 20p discount for business rates applied across hospitality, not just pubs, because nobody wants to drink in a pub surrounded by boarded-up cafés, restaurants and B&Bs. Can I urge the Government to act quickly and, as a gesture of their intent, withdraw the statutory instrument that enforces the much lower 5p business rate discount this April?
Dan Tomlinson
I thank my hon. Friend for her sustained and important engagement and advocacy on behalf of high street businesses in her constituency, from hospitality venues such as cafés and pubs to independent shops. She has explained to me really clearly the impact of various changes that previous Governments and this Government have announced on the businesses in her constituency. I will continue to engage with her and other strong advocates of the hospitality industry on this and other important issues that affect our high streets.