Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of business rates changes on independent bookshops in (a) Stockport constituency and (b) Greater Manchester.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
At the Budget, the VO announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since the pandemic, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties.
The Government has introduced a support package worth £4.3 billion, to protect ratepayers seeing large bills increases as a result of the 2026 revaluation
This is in addition to introducing new permanently lower multipliers for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties. These new multipliers are worth nearly £1 billion per year and benefit over 750,000 properties.
Around a third of properties already pay no business rates as they receive 100 per cent Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR), with an additional 85,000 benefiting from reduced bills as this relief tapers.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2026 to Question 5439 on Natural Gas: Prices, what data his Department holds on changes to bills for consumers connected to communal heat networks since gas prices increased following the situation in the Middle East; and what measures are being put in place to protect those consumers from increases in prices.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Ofgem as the regulator for heat networks has launched an online registration platform to capture information about heat networks. Authorised networks have until January 2027 to submit data, including on pricing. Ofgem has also issued a request for information to heat network suppliers.
The Department continues to consider all options available to mitigate higher prices.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure that toilet facilities at public transport (a) stations and (b) interchanges are (i) accessible and (ii) free of cost.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department recognises that accessible toilet provision can be an important factor in enabling people, including disabled passengers, to travel with confidence. Responsibility for the provision and operation of toilet facilities at stations and interchanges sits with the relevant infrastructure owners and operators.
The Department has previously supported accessibility improvements through targeted funding, including providing over £2.5 million to deliver Changing Places Toilets across the transport network, in partnership with Muscular Dystrophy UK. This programme has funded installations primarily at motorway service areas, alongside a small number of locations on the rail network, helping to support people with complex disabilities and their carers.
The Department is also developing guidance this year to improve the overall accessibility of local bus and coach stops and stations. Additionally, any new or refurbished toilets at railway stations must comply with current accessibility standards, or enforcement action can be taken by the Office of Rail and Road.