Catherine Atkinson
Main Page: Catherine Atkinson (Labour - Derby North)Department Debates - View all Catherine Atkinson's debates with the HM Treasury
Business Rates
Catherine Atkinson Excerpts(1 day, 10 hours ago)
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Dan Tomlinson
We want to work with the hotel sector on the review I have announced today. We will make sure it reports in time to be implemented by the Valuation Office Agency by the date of the next revaluation. For hotels at the very far end of the distribution of changes in rateable value—with an increase that large, I believe the one the hon. Member mentioned is—that is precisely why we have implemented the support we have. If it is worth less than £100,000, its increase will be capped at 15% this year; if it is worth more, its increase will be capped at 30%. We are aware that that is still an increase, but it is significantly less than it would have been if we had not stepped in to provide that support.
Catherine Atkinson (Derby North) (Lab)
It is understandable that covid-era business rates support needs to come to an end, and the 15% cap on increases for most hospitality businesses is a really important protection. I particularly welcome the Government’s acknowledgment of the central role that pubs—such as the Paddock in Chaddesden, the White Swan in Littleover and so many more across Derby—play in our communities. Will the Government continue to listen to and work with pubs, so that we can ensure they have certainty for the long term?
Dan Tomlinson
Yes, we will continue to work with pubs, because we do value them. I want to be clear, however, that we value all of the businesses on the high street. We value our hospitality businesses, our retail businesses and those that work in leisure and soft play, which I believe was mentioned earlier. All the different businesses that provide life and vibrancy on our high streets are important. I have set out the particular challenges of the rateable value methodology for pubs and the big challenges they have faced over the last 14 years, with 7,000 closing, but we want to make sure we continue to do all we can to support high streets in my hon. Friend’s constituency and across the country.