Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Harriet Cross Excerpts
Tuesday 23rd June 2026

(1 month, 1 week ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lucy Rigby Portrait The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Lucy Rigby)
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The Pride in Place programme provides £5.8 billion of support to 284 neighbourhoods right across the country, including five places in my hon. Friend’s constituency, which she does so much to advocate for. We will set out more details of further funding in the Budget.

Harriet Cross Portrait Harriet Cross (Gordon and Buchan) (Con)
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In my constituency, we have lost the Scotbeef abattoir and the famous Donald Russell butchers in recent months, both of which were crucial to the agricultural supply chain. Both blamed high energy costs and the increased costs of doing business, such as the huge rises in national insurance under this Government and big business rate rises under the SNP. What steps is the Treasury taking to support, not suffocate, the agricultural supply chain and other crucial elements of the farming sector?

Dan Tomlinson Portrait Dan Tomlinson
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I thank the hon. Member for the representations she makes on behalf of the businesses in her constituency. This Government are taking every step we can—within the tight fiscal constraints that we inherited from the previous Government—to reform, and invest in, our business rates system so that we can raise revenue in a fair and sustainable way. I am sure that the Chancellor and colleagues across Government will continue to listen to representations and consider what further changes we can make at the Budget to support businesses.