To ask the Minister of Finance for an update on his Department's work following recommendations relevant to his Department from the High Street Task Force’s Report entitled, Delivering a 21st Century High Street.

My Department was responsible for the rating elements of the report and has taken action in response to the relevant recommendations, including:

I have extended the Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) scheme, which provides support to 30,000 businesses, including many operating in our town centres. Eligible businesses receive relief of between 20% and 50% through the scheme.

Following a review of SBRR last year, I allocated around £10 million in the draft Budget to enhance the scheme. The proposals would increase both the number of recipients, including town centre businesses, and the level of support available. These measures remain subject to completion of the Budget process and, if approved, will apply retrospectively.

Alongside SBRR, the ‘Back in Business’ and Rural ATMs schemes have also been extended, providing further support to our town centres. These schemes help to address some of the challenges faced by businesses and communities in maintaining vibrant and accessible high streets.

In addition to this, officials within my Department are working closely with local councils to ensure that, where possible, their local rating initiatives complement our ‘Back in Business’ scheme, helping to maximise the overall support available to new businesses taking on vacant commercial premises.

My Department has also now launched a consultation on introducing a ‘Business Growth Accelerator’ to support businesses expanding their premises by deferring the resulting increase in rates liability for a set period. The consultation is due to close on 23 September.

The High Street Task Force was, however, a cross-cutting initiative with a wider set of recommendations across Government, which were not limited to my Department.