Oral Answers to Questions

Stephen McPartland Excerpts

Monday 8th September 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr David Nuttall (Bury North) (Con)]

4. How many shops in Bury North constituency have benefited from the reduction in business rates.

[Stephen McPartland (Stevenage) (Con)]

5. How many shops in (a) England and (b) Stevenage constituency have benefited from the reduction in business rates.

[Chloe Smith (Norwich North) (Con)]

6. How many shops in (a) England, (b) Norwich local authority area and (c) Broadland local authority area have benefited from the reduction in business rates.

--- Later in debate ---

[Kris Hopkins]

It is important to recognise that the Department is playing a role, as are the rest of Government, to get business going, to make sure that communities can stand on their own feet and to support very small businesses. That is why a £1,000 discount this year and next year will help those businesses.

[Stephen McPartland]

I am delighted that the Minister has given local authorities the power to review and reduce business rates locally. I have teamed up with a local accountancy firm in Stevenage to launch a campaign to help businesses to do just that. Will the Minister support that campaign, and does he agree it is ridiculous that many small businesses in my constituency pay more in business rates to Stevenage borough council than they do in rents to their landlords?

[Kris Hopkins]

I know that my hon. Friend is absolutely passionate about supporting people in Stevenage and that he is ruthless in pursuit of the Labour council, which yet again has failed local businesses. I am sure we can offer our support to his campaign and those businesses.