Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the impact of money laundering and illicit trading on commercial rental values and the ability of legitimate businesses to secure high street premises.

My department has not undertaken a specific assessment of the impact of money laundering and illicit trading on commercial rental values or the ability of legitimate businesses to secure high street premises. However, the government recognises that criminal activity undermines legitimate businesses and damages confidence in our high streets.

Our High Streets strategy, Hope on the High Street, sets out action to tackle these threats, including a £30 million crackdown on high street organised crime, improved intelligence sharing and plans to strengthen powers for councils and police to close premises linked to criminal activity.

The government is also providing up to £30 million annually until 2028/29 to tackle illicit and underage tobacco and vape sales and support implementation of the Tobacco and Vapes Act, including recruiting 120 Trading Standards apprentices, alongside a further £2 million annually over the same period to combat high street organised crime.