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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to announce a retail sector deal as part of his industrial strategy.

The Government is committed to working with any sector that can self-organise behind strong leadership, offer a compelling case for sector specific action, and set out clear proposals to transform their sector via a sector deal. The Government is open to sector deal proposals and encourages the retail sector to come forward with ideas.

We want to see the retail sector thrive and to do so we work closely with a range of retailers and retail associations. In March we established the Retail Sector Council to bring Government and industry together to share best practice and boost the sector’s productivity and economic health. On 7 June, my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I will be hosting a roundtable with Retail CEOs and look forward to hearing their latest thoughts.