Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to support the retail sector in Scotland.

BEIS Ministers regularly engage with retailers based throughout the UK to understand their priorities and work with colleagues across Government to optimise the conditions for the sector. Specific initiatives which have benefited retailers include: the reduction in the corporation tax rate to 19%, with further plans to cut it further to 17% in 2020 and the introduction of the Employment Allowance, giving employers up to £3000 off their National Insurance contributions (NICs) bill, benefitting 1m employers. The Government has also introduced the Great British High Street Competition, now in its third year, which celebrates the achievements of local areas in creating vibrant and dynamic high streets and is open to applications from any community large or small.