Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

John Glen Excerpts
Tuesday 3rd November 2026

(2 days, 17 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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James Murray Portrait The Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General (James Murray)
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I am glad that our business rates changes will benefit businesses in my hon. Friend’s constituency, as part of our measures to take 70,000 small retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in England out of paying business rates altogether, as well as a 20% cut for pubs and the real-terms freeze for all RHL businesses across the country.

John Glen Portrait John Glen (Salisbury) (Con)
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This morning at the Treasury Committee, I was taken aback by how ferocious Helen Miller from the Institute for Fiscal Studies was in decrying the Government’s founders’ relief. She suggested that it could lead to cliff-edges and contrived business redefinitions. Could one of the Ministers explain how founders’ relief will encourage investment and innovation, because there is enormous scepticism out there among the community of entrepreneurs that it will have a positive effect?

James Murray Portrait James Murray
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I fundamentally disagree with the right hon. Gentleman because entrepreneurs who I have spoken to welcome the founders’ relief that we introduced at the Budget last year to back some of the founders—some of those behind our fastest-growing businesses, creating wealth, jobs and opportunity in our country.