Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help support the local hospitality sector to regenerate high streets in (a) Yeovil, (b) Chard and (c) other towns.

This Government is reforming business rates to protect the high street, including permanently lower taxes for retail, hospitality and leisure properties with a rateable value under £500,000 from 2026.

We are also slashing red tape to breathe new life into high streets making it quicker and easier to convert disused shops into cafes, bars, and music venues. A new National Licensing Policy Framework and 'hospitality zones' will simplify planning, fast-track alfresco dining and protect long-standing venues.

We continue to work with the Retail and Hospitality Sector Councils to improve the resilience of high street businesses by addressing skills gaps and improving productivity through innovation. Locally, businesses in Yeovil can get access to free expert advice, support and signposting to all kinds of Government programmes from the Heart of the South West Growth Hub.

This support, alongside other policies set out in our Plan for Small Business published in July, aim to boost local economies and help communities, like those in Yeovil and Chard, to thrive.