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Food: Wholesale Trade

Asked by Kate OsamorLabour (Co-op)TreasuryTabled Answered 9 September 2025UIN 73700

The question

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions her Department has had with food and drink wholesalers on reforming the business rates system.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson

HM Treasury releases a quarterly record of Minister’s meetings with external individuals and organisations. This can be found online: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel

At the Autumn Budget, the Government published the Transforming Business Rates Discussion Paper, which set out priority areas for reform. This paper invited stakeholders to help co-design a fairer business rates system that supports investment and is fit for the 21st century.

The Government will publish an interim report that sets out a clear direction of travel for the business rates system, with further policy detail to follow at Autumn Budget 2025.

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