Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the implications of the Valuation Office Agency's decision to remove cash machines in post offices from the rating list on other retail businesses that host cash machines.

No such assessment has been made.

Decisions on when sites should be assessed for business rates are made independently of Ministers by the Valuation Office Agency and are considered on a case by case basis, taking account of the particular circumstances of each occupation, in line with rating legislation.

The government has reduced the burden of business rates for all ratepayers, including retailers, in 2014-15 and 2015-16. It has also increased the business rates retail discount for retail properties with a rateable value of £50,000 or below from £1000 to £1500 from April 2015.