Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of trends in the number of high street store closures throughout the UK in 2018; and if he will make a statement.

High streets are a crucial part of our communities. The Government is determined to see our high streets thriving, both now and in the future.

However, we recognise that high streets face challenges, including the challenges faced by the retail sector. This is why we have announced that the Department will launch a call for evidence over the summer looking at the future of our high streets. We have established an expert panel of industry leaders to draw on their experience and expertise to diagnose the issues currently affecting our high streets, and advise on the best long-term approach to help their revival.

The Government is committed to helping communities and high streets adapt. The Department for Business, Energy and the Industrial Strategy has established the sector-led Retail Sector Council so that retailers, large and small, can work effectively with each other and policy makers. The Council is chaired jointly by the Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility and Richard Pennycook, the former chief executive of the Co-op.