Covid-19: Furloughed Space Grant Scheme

Lord Shipley Excerpts

Monday 15th June 2020 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Penn]

The noble Lord is right to say that we need to do more to support our high streets. That is why we have a £1 billion Future High Streets Fund. On business rates, the Government committed to and published the terms of reference for a fundamental review of business rates in the March 2020 Budget.

[Lord Shipley (LD) [V]]

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for explaining that the Government are going to review business rates, which are part of this problem. Does she accept that the system of business rates, based on open market rental value, is effectively broken and that urgent action is required to reform the system?

[Baroness Penn]

The noble Lord will understand that that kind of question is exactly the type of thing the review will look at.