Business Rates

Debate between Alison Bennett and Dan Tomlinson

Tuesday 27th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Dan Tomlinson]

I will continue to keep those important cultural and social assets in mind as we work on our policy for supporting businesses across the country.

[Alison Bennett (Mid Sussex) (LD)]

The Minister talks about the definition of a pub. In the village of Hurstpierpoint in my constituency, Morley’s Bistro has a very similar product offering to food-led pubs on the same high street. They are competing for the same customers, and they are, ideally, all employing young people and giving them their first job. How does the Minister justify this?

[Dan Tomlinson]

We are, in the usual way, using long-standing definitions set out in business rates guidance to define pubs, and similar venues to which the relief will apply.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alison Bennett and Dan Tomlinson

Tuesday 9th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Alison Bennett (Mid Sussex) (LD)]

T9.   The Government seem set on pushing on with the family farm tax, despite opposition from the Liberal Democrats—and indeed from Labour Members. Will the Minister at least revisit the forestalling clause, which would help older farmers in Mid Sussex and across the country to avoid the consequences of backdating the legislation?

[Dan Tomlinson]

At the Budget, we came forward with a revision to the policy to support people whose spouses have already passed away, and we made the allowance transferable between the spouses. That change will reduce the number of farms affected by the agricultural property relief changes from about 500—as was estimated at the previous Budget—to 375, when coupled with changes to the underlying economic forecast. The policy raises money from those with the largest estates in a fair way, and I encourage Members in all parts of the House to consider whether or not—