Asked by: Lord Sikka (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the cost of commercial rents upon the viability of independent shops in town centres.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
This Government is fully committed to supporting the businesses and communities that make our high streets and town centres successful. In March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government introduced legislation to prevent evictions and the seizure of goods for businesses who were unable to pay their rent, alongside publishing a Code of Practice to help landlords and tenants work together to resolve this rent debt. To resolve any remaining rent debt, on 24 March 2022, Government passed (attached) the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Act 2022 and established a new statutory arbitration process.
Government has also provided an unprecedented package of support to businesses over the past few years, including recent fuel duty and VAT cuts, changes to business rates worth £13.6 billion over the next five years in lower bills, government backed loans worth around £400 billion and the £3.6 billion Towns Fund, which includes support for 101 Town Deals and 72 Future High Streets Fund projects.
This is in addition to the Energy Bills Relief Scheme, which discounts businesses' energy bills until 31 March 2023; the new Energy Bills Discount Scheme; the increased Employment Allowance of £5,000, which takes the smallest 40% of businesses out of paying any National Insurance at all; and setting the Annual Investment Allowance at £1 million permanently. This is a comprehensive package of support which will help protect independent retailers.
Asked by: Lord Sikka (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to meet survivors and bereaved relatives of the Grenfell disaster to discuss the Government’s handling of that tragedy.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
Since taking post, the Levelling Up Secretary and Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing have been regularly meeting with bereaved families, survivors and local residents to discuss the issues which matter to the community. This includes four open community meetings as well as individual meetings with community groups.