To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of Thomas Cook's liquidation on the landlords of Thomas Cook's high street shops.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of Thomas Cook's liquidation on the landlords of Thomas Cook's high street shops.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on business rates revenue, following the closure of Thomas Cook's high street shops.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on business rates revenue, following the closure of Thomas Cook's high street shops.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to reduce the number of empty shops on high streets in England and Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to reduce the number of empty shops on high streets in England and Wales.

I beg to move,

That this House has considered the Eleventh Report of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, High Streets and town centres in 2030, HC 1010, and the Government response, CP 84.

It is a great pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Stringer. It also gives me great...

I beg to move,

That this House has considered the Eleventh Report of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, High Streets and town centres in 2030, HC 1010, and the Government response, CP 84.

It is a great pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Stringer. It also gives me great...

I draw the House’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests—namely, that I am a director of Stanfords, a travel and cartography business, and, with my sister, a joint owner of a small commercial high street property.

It is a pleasure to follow the Chair of our...

I draw the House’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests—namely, that I am a director of Stanfords, a travel and cartography business, and, with my sister, a joint owner of a small commercial high street property.

It is a pleasure to follow the Chair of our...

I welcome this report, and add my thanks to the Chair of the Committee, the hon. Member for Sheffield South East (Mr Betts), and everyone who contributed to it.

Town centres and high streets matter because they are the hearts of our communities. They are the places where people come together...

I welcome this report, and add my thanks to the Chair of the Committee, the hon. Member for Sheffield South East (Mr Betts), and everyone who contributed to it.

Town centres and high streets matter because they are the hearts of our communities. They are the places where people come together...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Stringer. I, too, welcome the Select Committee’s report. I thought it was outstanding, particularly in the light of the challenges that my city experiences on a day-to-day basis, on which I have advocated action in this place. Those who are...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Stringer. I, too, welcome the Select Committee’s report. I thought it was outstanding, particularly in the light of the challenges that my city experiences on a day-to-day basis, on which I have advocated action in this place. Those who are...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Stringer. I thank the Committee, its members and its staff for the excellent Report. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield South East (Mr Betts) on securing

this debate and on his opening remarks, which were wide-ranging, informative...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Stringer. I thank the Committee, its members and its staff for the excellent Report. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield South East (Mr Betts) on securing

this debate and on his opening remarks, which were wide-ranging, informative...

Absolutely, Mr Stringer. I am Heather Wheeler, just in case anyone had not worked that out. The other Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Jake Berry), should have been responding, but sadly he is at a funeral...

Absolutely, Mr Stringer. I am Heather Wheeler, just in case anyone had not worked that out. The other Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Jake Berry), should have been responding, but sadly he is at a funeral...

Will the Minister give way?

Will the Minister give way?

It will have to be very quick.

It will have to be very quick.

I will be brief. Will the Minister commit to going back and scoping out the possibility of a turnover tax?

I will be brief. Will the Minister commit to going back and scoping out the possibility of a turnover tax?

The hon. Lady is obviously prescient. When the Government concluded the last fundamental review of business rates, we decided to keep business rates as a property tax, following stakeholder responses. Respondents agreed that business rates are easy to collect, difficult to avoid, relatively stable and clearly linked with local authority...

The hon. Lady is obviously prescient. When the Government concluded the last fundamental review of business rates, we decided to keep business rates as a property tax, following stakeholder responses. Respondents agreed that business rates are easy to collect, difficult to avoid, relatively stable and clearly linked with local authority...

Will the Minister give way?

Will the Minister give way?

I have not got time.

I have not got time.

I will be extremely brief. This issue is killing businesses across the country now. I am afraid that saying the Government generally keep it under review, along with all other taxes, simply does not cut it for businesses in our town centres.

I will be extremely brief. This issue is killing businesses across the country now. I am afraid that saying the Government generally keep it under review, along with all other taxes, simply does not cut it for businesses in our town centres.

I have outlined how the Government are helping local businesses with many, many millions of pounds, and with £6 billion-worth of relief, so I think the hon. Lady is slightly over-egging it.

Another issue that has been highlighted is our undertaking a planning consultation on permitted development rights to help support...

I have outlined how the Government are helping local businesses with many, many millions of pounds, and with £6 billion-worth of relief, so I think the hon. Lady is slightly over-egging it.

Another issue that has been highlighted is our undertaking a planning consultation on permitted development rights to help support...

Motion that this House has considered the eleventh report of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, High Streets and town centres in 2030, HC 1010, and the Government response, CP 84. Agreed to on question.

Motion that this House has considered the eleventh report of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, High Streets and town centres in 2030, HC 1010, and the Government response, CP 84. Agreed to on question.