Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Julian Smith and Wera Hobhouse

Tuesday 9th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Julian Smith (Skipton and Ripon) (Con)]

6. What assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to business rates on the hospitality sector.

[Wera Hobhouse (Bath) (LD)]

20. What steps she is taking through the tax system to help reduce costs for small and medium-sized businesses.

[The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Dan Tomlinson)]

Small and medium-sized businesses are vital to our economy and our communities, and the Government’s small business strategy, published in July this year, sets out our approach to supporting them. As temporary pandemic business rates relief ends and the new revaluation comes into effect, we are supporting the high street with £4 billion-worth of support through transitional relief and our supporting small business schemes, as well as through our long-term reforms to permanently lower the multipliers for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties, and support them with a significant package that will cap most of the increases this year for those who have seen large increases since the pandemic.