Business Rates
Debate between Dan Tomlinson and Steve Race(4 days, 8 hours ago)
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Dan Tomlinson
I am sure that the consequentials and their implications will be set out as soon as is practically possible.
Steve Race (Exeter) (Lab)
As I think you know, Mr Speaker, Exeter and Devon have some of the finest pubs, independent breweries and live music venues in the country. I thank Exeter Brewery and the Exeter Phoenix arts venue for their representations to me on these issues. I am pleased that, on top of the support in the Budget, pubs will get an additional 15% off, and that will apply to music venues as well, which is very welcome. Does the Minister agree with me that the £4.3 billion of support in the Budget, and the support today, stand in stark contrast to the record of 7,000 pubs closing under the previous Government?
Dan Tomlinson
I very much agree with my hon. Friend. What happened in the past is in stark contrast to the reform of our business rates system under our Government. We have set out long-term differences in the multipliers—also known as the tax rates—faced by high-street businesses and those faced by the online giants and the largest businesses. Typical businesses on his high street will have a significantly lower tax rate than that faced by the largest online warehouses. I understand that bills may still increase because of the winding down of pandemic relief and the increase in rateable values, but that underlying reform of the system is there, and it is there for good.
Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief
Debate between Dan Tomlinson and Steve Race(3 weeks, 5 days ago)
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Steve Race (Exeter) (Lab)
I welcome this sensible compromise, and thank the members of the NFU in Devon for their work and for talking to me, both here and in Exeter. The Government’s support for nature-friendly farming through environmental land management schemes is to increase from £800 million a year to £2 billion a year over the coming years. Can the Minister confirm that they are taking the necessary steps to ensure that we can, in a sustainable and environmentally-friendly way, produce the food that we need in this country?
Dan Tomlinson
I thank my hon. Friend for the engagement that we have had on this and other issues that affect his constituency, which I know contains some rural elements. He has raised an important point. We need to continue to work in partnership with farmers, and with their representatives and trade bodies, to make sure that we can support sustainable food production in the UK, and we are investing £11.8 billion of support over this Parliament.