Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of changes to business rates on high street activity; and if he will further review eligibility for non-residential business rate relief.

The Government recognises the challenges being faced by our high streets, and in response announced the retail discount at Budget 2018, and provided eligible retailers with a third off their bills from April 2019. In addition, the Government has also announced a £1 billion Future High Streets Fund, part of the £3.6 billion Towns Fund, to re-energise local economies.

In an exceptional response to the coronavirus, the Government has increased the retail discount to 100 per cent and expanded it to include hospitality and leisure properties, such as museums, theatres, gyms and hotels.