Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if her Department will conduct an impact assessment on increasing financial pressures in the retail sector in (a) the UK and (b) Liverpool Walton constituency.

The Government is committed to supporting the retail sector across the UK and we are acutely aware of the challenges faced by businesses. We frequently engage with the retail sector to understand their concerns.

We are determined to support retail businesses to succeed against a difficult economic backdrop. We will introduce a permanently lower business rates multipliers for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values below £500,000 from 2026-27. Ahead of the new multipliers being introduced, we extended the RHL relief for 2025-26 at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business and froze the small business multiplier.

In addition, we have:

• Increased the Employment Allowance to £10,500, shielding the smallest retail businesses the from the impact of the increase to employer National Insurance;
• Committed to cut regulatory admin burdens for businesses by 25% through simplification and reduced uncertainty, with further details on targets to follow later this year; and
• Introduced tougher measures on retail crime, including a new offence for assaulting retail workers, ending immunity for shop theft under £200, and investing over £9 million in police support and the National Business Crime Centre over three years.

We will continue to work with the retail sector to help drive economic growth, regenerate our high streets, and support vibrant and healthy communities.