Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to promote local high street retail businesses.

The Government recognises that retail businesses are a vital part of high streets and is committed to supporting and promoting them. We introduced £1.4 billion of support for business rate bills in 2015 – 16 in England. The Autumn Statement 2015 also announced continuation of the doubling of Small Business Rate Relief in 2016 - 17, providing help for 600,000 rate payers, with 400,000 paying nothing at all. We are also committed to reviewing the future structure of Business Rates, to report before Budget 2016.

We are also bringing forward sensible planning changes to allow business to respond flexibly to changing market conditions and are taking action to tackle over-zealous parking practices. We have reviewed the role and power of Business Improvement Districts, and are taking forward changes that will mean that they can become more involved in local decisions that affect their area.

We have also run the Great British High Street Awards since 2014, which has championed the hard work of local businesses and communities around the country. With nearly 200,000 votes cast in the public voting element in the 2015 Awards, the competition proves how much local people cherish our high streets. We will continue to showcase best practice from the Awards.

The Future High Street Forum is a joint partnership between government and the retail, leisure and property industries. It is leading an ambitious programme of work, including looking at town centre restructuring and the digital high street, to support town centres to meet the changing needs of today’s consumer.