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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support entrepreneurs and small business start-ups seeking to open commercial premises on high streets.

This government wants to make the UK the best place to start a business, with a culture that supports entrepreneurship on the high street. Our Plan for Small Businesses sets out a comprehensive package of support for small businesses. This includes measures to help SMEs access finance, adopt digital tools and access advice, but also high street interventions addressing antisocial behaviour, updating our licensing regime and targeting funding through our Pride in Place and High Street and Growth Incubator programmes.

Later this year we will bring forward a new cross-government High Streets Strategy to drive long-term high street regeneration. This will build on powers like High Street Rental Auctions, which are enabling local authorities to tackle long-term vacant properties and support local businesses and communities to make use of them.