Business Rates

Lord Forsyth of Drumlean Excerpts

Wednesday 11th June 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Forsyth of Drumlean (Con)]

My Lords, how does my noble friend think that high street shops can compete when they have the burden of rents and rates, and are competing with online retailers such as Amazon, which pay no corporation tax? Is it not time that we looked at the tax system with a view to the implications of the growth of online shopping?

[Baroness Stowell of Beeston]

As my noble friend knows, the way in which the Government consider the tax regime for businesses as a whole is something that we continue to study. Fundamentally, we are anxious to ensure that we have the best tax system for British business and that we continue to encourage growth in this country.