Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the No10 press release, “PM vows to save hollowed out high streets with crackdown on vape and betting shops”, 10 August 2026, what specific changes are being considered to Small Business Rates Relief; and for what reason the thresholds for small business rate relief was frozen in the 2026 revaluation.

At the 2026 revaluation, the thresholds for Small Business Rates Relief remained unchanged. Around a third of properties continue to receive 100 per cent relief, with a further 85,000 properties benefiting from tapered relief. The Government also extended the period for which businesses expanding into a second property can retain Small Business Rates Relief and introduced additional support for businesses losing eligibility for relief as a result of the revaluation.

The Government is continuing to review the wider business rates system to ensure it better supports high streets, local economies and small businesses, and further decisions on business rates reform will be set out in the normal way at the Budget.