Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure access to supermarket provision in North East Hampshire where large retailers have recently announced closed stores.

Retail plays a vital role in communities such as North East Hampshire, supporting local jobs, access to essential goods and vibrant high streets, and we recognise the importance of sustaining this provision. Local retail provision is ultimately determined by commercial decisions of individual companies. However, through the Retail Sector Council and wider high street support, we are helping retailers adapt and continue serving communities, including areas affected by store closures.

We are delivering permanently lower business rates multipliers for over 750,000 retail, hospitality and leisure properties, backed by a £4.3 billion support package over three years, including transitional relief to protect businesses from large bill increases following revaluation. Later this year we will bring forward a new High Streets Strategy, to help reinvigorate our communities.