Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent steps her Department has taken to support high street retailers.

Government wants all types of retail to thrive, and we are supporting the sector as it responds to change. This is why we established the industry led Retail Sector Council to bring Government and industry together to help the sector address key sector issues and define its future strategy.

The Council is prioritising its work to address the key challenges facing the sector and is focussing on; costs to business, skills and lifelong learning, employment protection, consumer protection, the circular economy and the Industrial Strategy. The priority areas were selected by the industry and each workstream is being led by a senior industry figure.

In July 2019, the Prime Minister set out this Government’s plan to unite and level up cities, towns, coastal and rural areas across our country. He announced a £3.6 billion Towns Fund to set out his vision to re-energise local economies so that everyone can share in a new era of prosperity. This included £1 billion for the Future High Streets Fund, which will support local areas in England to renew and reshape town centres and high streets in a way that improves experience, drives growth and ensures future sustainability.

Finally, we are supporting local leadership with a High Streets Task Force, giving high streets and town centres expert advice to adapt and thrive. This will provide hands-on support to local areas to develop data-driven innovative strategies and connect local areas to relevant experts.