Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of existing business rate valuations on (a) high street independent shops and (b) pubs and other hospitality businesses.

The government is committed to a fairer business rates system. In our manifesto, we pledged to level the playing field between the high street and online giants, better incentivise investment, tackle empty properties and support entrepreneurship.