Arcadia and Debenhams: Business Support and Job Retention Debate

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Department: Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities

Arcadia and Debenhams: Business Support and Job Retention

Marco Longhi Excerpts
Wednesday 2nd December 2020

(3 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Paul Scully Portrait Paul Scully
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There are plenty of things on which we can work together with the sector and, indeed, the whole gamut of British high street businesses, including by talking about getting the rent balance right between landlords and tenants, as well as rates, as the hon. Lady says. The Economic Secretary to the Treasury is joining me on tomorrow’s Retail Sector Council call that I mentioned, to talk about the fundamental business rates review. I hope we will be able to work with local authorities to get that flexibility.

Marco Longhi Portrait Marco Longhi (Dudley North) (Con)
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Does my hon. Friend agree that Dudley Council and other local leaders in my constituency will play an instrumental role in rebuilding and revitalising the high street? Will he confirm that the high streets taskforce will stand ready to provide whatever advice may be needed in this endeavour?

Paul Scully Portrait Paul Scully
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I know that my hon. Friend works tirelessly for his constituency and local economy. It is so important that we get together to look at the high street, because many of these conversations were about what the high street will look like in 10 or 15 years’ time, but now they are about what the high street will look like next year and maybe only the year after. We have to get a speedy but holistic response.