Business Rates

Lord Forbes of Newcastle Excerpts

Thursday 29th January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Livermore (Lab)]

I am very happy to tell the noble Lord what my least favourite policy of the previous Government was, and that was Brexit.

[Lord Forbes of Newcastle (Lab)]

My Lords, does my noble friend the Minister agree with me about the importance of certainty and security for businesses in the payment of business rates in particular? While local authority funding is predicated on the retention of business rates at a local level, as well as council tax rates, there is regional variation in the deployment of the collection of those rates, based on differential bandings according to the nature of properties in those areas. Will he consider the challenge that many small businesses face in having to pay business rates, compared to the longevity of property owners? Will he consider looking at the payment of business rates in future by business owners rather than businesses themselves as a way of smoothing out some of these challenges?

[Lord Livermore (Lab)]

I am grateful to my noble friend for that question, which obviously comes from a position of deep expertise in this matter. I am more than happy to look at all the issues he raises and take them back to my Treasury colleagues to discuss them further.