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Retail Trade: Urban Areas

Asked by Michael PayneLabourDepartment for Business and TradeTabled Answered 12 December 2025UIN 906879

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he has taken to support local high streets.

Answered by Blair McDougall

This government is putting high streets at the heart of economic renewal through our Small and Medium Sized Business Plan and MHCLG's £5 billion Pride in Place programme which will support areas in both of my Honourable Friends' constituencies.

At Budget, we confirmed permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure and a £4.3 billion package to protect ratepayer bill increases because of property revaluation.

We also announced £15 million per year to support stronger enforcement on illegal high street activity, alongside other measures covering, retail crime and pro-growth regulatory changes for the retail and hospitality sectors.

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