To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of resources available to local authority Trading Standards services to enforce high fat, salt and sugar regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of resources available to local authority Trading Standards services to enforce high fat, salt and sugar regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with local authority Trading Standards services regarding the resourcing and enforcement of retail country-of-origin labelling compliance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with local authority Trading Standards services regarding the resourcing and enforcement of retail country-of-origin labelling compliance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate her department has made of the number of non-compliant disposable vape units seized by trading standards officers in Leicester over the past 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate her department has made of the number of non-compliant disposable vape units seized by trading standards officers in Leicester over the past 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what central resources are being provided to unitary trading standards teams, such as Leicester's, to increase intelligence-led raids on shops suspected of selling illegal vapes or non-compliant nicotine products.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what central resources are being provided to unitary trading standards teams, such as Leicester's, to increase intelligence-led raids on shops suspected of selling illegal vapes or non-compliant nicotine products.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Trading Standards enforcement of consumer rights relating to online retailers; and what steps the Government is taking to ensure that local Trading Standards teams have sufficient resources and powers...

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Trading Standards enforcement of consumer rights relating to online retailers; and what steps the Government is taking to ensure that local Trading Standards teams have sufficient resources and powers...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many cases have been referred to HMRC for civil sanctions by Trading Standards teams for non-compliance with the UK Tobacco Track and Trace system since July 2023; how many of those referrals resulted in a civil sanction; and what the value was...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many cases have been referred to HMRC for civil sanctions by Trading Standards teams for non-compliance with the UK Tobacco Track and Trace system since July 2023; how many of those referrals resulted in a civil sanction; and what the value was...

This briefing provides information about the regulation of estate agents in England and Wales.

This briefing provides information about the regulation of estate agents in England and Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities have applied for Government funding to support Trading Standards to tackle illicit activity on high streets; and if he will provide a breakdown by local authority and funding programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities have applied for Government funding to support Trading Standards to tackle illicit activity on high streets; and if he will provide a breakdown by local authority and funding programme.

Motion, That this House has considered Government support for regenerating local high streets and removing unlawful storefronts. Agreed to on question.

Motion, That this House has considered Government support for regenerating local high streets and removing unlawful storefronts. Agreed to on question.

I beg to move,

That this House has considered Government support for regenerating local high streets and removing unlawful storefronts.

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Vaz, and a delight to see so many Members present to talk about this important topic. High streets matter: they are one...

I beg to move,

That this House has considered Government support for regenerating local high streets and removing unlawful storefronts.

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Vaz, and a delight to see so many Members present to talk about this important topic. High streets matter: they are one...

I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on his success in securing this debate, which I suppose is indicative of the crisis that he is talking about. I have secured a similar debate this afternoon on a directly related issue. This demands not only our attention, but immediate Government action, because in...

I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on his success in securing this debate, which I suppose is indicative of the crisis that he is talking about. I have secured a similar debate this afternoon on a directly related issue. This demands not only our attention, but immediate Government action, because in...

I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on securing a debate later today. He is absolutely right: the pressure and stress that high streets are under mean that, on the current path, they will be unrecognisable in a decade.

I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on securing a debate later today. He is absolutely right: the pressure and stress that high streets are under mean that, on the current path, they will be unrecognisable in a decade.

I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on securing this important debate. He mentioned vape shops, barber shops and mini-marts. He will be aware of the evidence that some of those enterprises are masking quite serious organised crime on our high streets. This has been a decades-long failure in regulation. The cracks...

I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on securing this important debate. He mentioned vape shops, barber shops and mini-marts. He will be aware of the evidence that some of those enterprises are masking quite serious organised crime on our high streets. This has been a decades-long failure in regulation. The cracks...

The hon. Member is correct: without doubt, a strong regulatory failure over the past decade has contributed to the problem. I will address some of her points later in my remarks.

There is also a rural/suburban distinction. In rural areas, the British public have a stronger opinion: about 55% of people...

The hon. Member is correct: without doubt, a strong regulatory failure over the past decade has contributed to the problem. I will address some of her points later in my remarks.

There is also a rural/suburban distinction. In rural areas, the British public have a stronger opinion: about 55% of people...

I thank the hon. Member for securing this important debate. The issues that he highlights exist across the country. A common struggle for hon. Members across the House is that we cannot find out who owns these buildings on our high streets. I have approached my council, but it either...

I thank the hon. Member for securing this important debate. The issues that he highlights exist across the country. A common struggle for hon. Members across the House is that we cannot find out who owns these buildings on our high streets. I have approached my council, but it either...

The hon. Member is correct. At the centre of a Venn diagram of regulatory and reporting blackspots, there is a sweet spot where it is difficult to identify those who are responsible behind the building ownership or the so-called businesses appearing on our high streets as a consequence of the...

The hon. Member is correct. At the centre of a Venn diagram of regulatory and reporting blackspots, there is a sweet spot where it is difficult to identify those who are responsible behind the building ownership or the so-called businesses appearing on our high streets as a consequence of the...

Does the hon. Member agree that in rural areas we need a lot more banking hubs, because the banks are going, and that we should scrap business rates for start-ups and independent businesses? Rural communities are losing shops big time.

Does the hon. Member agree that in rural areas we need a lot more banking hubs, because the banks are going, and that we should scrap business rates for start-ups and independent businesses? Rural communities are losing shops big time.

The hon. Member is correct that the issue is acutely felt in rural areas. I am delighted that the Conservative party has put forward a plan to abolish business rates for thousands of small businesses, including shops, pubs and hospitality businesses on the high street. I will come on to...

The hon. Member is correct that the issue is acutely felt in rural areas. I am delighted that the Conservative party has put forward a plan to abolish business rates for thousands of small businesses, including shops, pubs and hospitality businesses on the high street. I will come on to...

I am grateful to the hon. Member for securing this important debate. York is fortunate that two thirds of its high street businesses are independent, but they are really struggling at the moment, not least because of the costs pressing on their finances—particularly business rates, which have gone up incredibly...

I am grateful to the hon. Member for securing this important debate. York is fortunate that two thirds of its high street businesses are independent, but they are really struggling at the moment, not least because of the costs pressing on their finances—particularly business rates, which have gone up incredibly...

The hon. Member is an ardent champion of her constituency. It is reassuring to hear that her area has a strong and thriving independent sector, but she is right that the first rung of employment for so many has been pulled away from that ladder, in large part because of...

The hon. Member is an ardent champion of her constituency. It is reassuring to hear that her area has a strong and thriving independent sector, but she is right that the first rung of employment for so many has been pulled away from that ladder, in large part because of...