Oral Answers to Questions

Abtisam Mohamed Excerpts

Tuesday 27th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Olly Glover (Didcot and Wantage) (LD)]

10. What assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to business rates on the hospitality sector.

[Abtisam Mohamed (Sheffield Central) (Lab)]

14. What fiscal steps she is taking to support small businesses.

[Marie Goldman (Chelmsford) (LD)]

16. What assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to business rates on the hospitality sector.

--- Later in debate ---

[Dan Tomlinson]

The Government will have more to say a bit later today when it comes to pubs and the support that the Government can provide for them. We knew that the revaluations would be implemented from 1 April, and that is precisely why we came forward with a significant package of support for all businesses across the economy. We introduced significant reforms to lower the multipliers for businesses like the pubs that the hon. Member mentioned.

[Abtisam Mohamed]

Sheffield Central businesses continue to face disproportionately higher pressures, with ever-increasing running costs stacking up and a drop in footfall. Businesses like the Gamers Guide Café and the Dove and Rainbow pub tell me that they need much more to survive the dip in foot traffic, so will the Minister set out how he is reducing pressures on high street cafés and pubs, and will he consider targeted relief to ensure viability for hospitality businesses?

[Dan Tomlinson]

I thank my hon. Friend for her representations on behalf of businesses and constituents in Sheffield. One of the important things to note about the business rates system is that there are many smaller businesses on our high streets that pay no business rates at all. One in three businesses continue to benefit from small business rate relief and an additional 85,000 benefit from reduced bills as that tapers. At the Budget we announced an additional two years of small business rate relief for those businesses that expand into a second property. This will be helpful for small and independent businesses, and will support them to grow.