Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to increase the cap on the 50 per cent reduction in business rates for the retail, leisure and hospitality sector to support businesses with larger numbers of sites.
Answered by Lucy Frazer
Together with Small Business Rates Relief, over 90 per cent of retail, hospitality and leisure businesses will receive at least a 50 per cent reduction in their business rates bills in 2022-23.
Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the amusement machine industry will be eligible for the 50 per cent business rates relief discount available to the retail, leisure, and hospitality industry.
Answered by Lucy Frazer
Guidance setting out eligibility for the 2022-23 retail, hospitality and leisure relief will be published by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in due course.
Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of (a) reducing or (b) removing Air Passenger Duty on two-way domestic UK flights to assist the growth of (i) regional and (ii) Blackpool airports.
Answered by Helen Whately - Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
As part of its recent consultation on aviation tax, the Government outlined its initial view that the effective rate of Air Passenger Duty (APD) on domestic flights should be reduced in order to support Union and regional connectivity and that the number of international distance bands should be increased in order to align APD more closely with our environmental objectives.
The consultation sought evidence on the potential impacts of these proposals, including on regional air routes. As part of the consultation process the Government engaged with airports in all parts of the UK.
The Government is currently reviewing responses to the consultation and will update in due course.
Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of reducing Machine Games Duty for high street arcades to mitigate the financial effects of covid-19 restrictions.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - Leader of HM Official Opposition
The Government has no current plans to reduce Machine Games Duty. High street arcade operators will have been able to benefit from the package of measures introduced to mitigate the financial impact of Covid-19 worth over £280 billion, including the Job Retention Scheme, which has been extended until April, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, the bounce back loan and payment deferral schemes.
HM Treasury keeps all taxes, including Machine Games Duty, under active review.
Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will extend the VAT reduction to 5 per cent to amusement arcades.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - Leader of HM Official Opposition
The temporary reduced rate of VAT was introduced on 15 July to support the cash flow and viability of over 150,000 businesses and protect 2.4 million jobs in the hospitality and tourism sectors, and will run until 31 March 2021. While we keep all taxes under review, this relief comes at a significant cost to the Exchequer, and there are currently no plans to extend the scope of the reduced rate.
The Government has announced a significant support package to help businesses through the winter months, which includes an extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, an extension of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grant, and an extension of the application window for the government-backed loan schemes.