Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of reductions in household spending power on the economic sustainability of businesses of all sizes in (a) the retail sector and (b) the service sector.

HM Treasury has made no assessment of the relationship between household spending and business sustainability.

The government is supporting business by cutting Corporation Tax to 17% - the lowest rate in the G20; providing over £23bn in additional investment in economic infrastructure, research and development, and housing; and through the Industrial Strategy, which will increase productivity and drive growth across the whole country.