Retail Strategy

I most certainly agree that we are seeing a radical transformation and that we need a vision for ...

I am happy my hon. Friend has secured this important debate, and I congratulate her on doing so; ...

I most certainly agree that radical action is needed so that we can stop the situation teetering ...

Part of the solution has to be business rates; that is what is fed back to me in my community. We...

Business rates certainly feature strongly in the study by the Housing, Communities and Local Gove...

Like many hon. Members present, I have seen my main retail high street, Fishergate in Preston cit...

Indeed. One of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee’s findings was that local ...

Will my hon. Friend join me in urging the Government to heed the call by the Union of Shop, Distr...

I thank my hon. Friend for his intervention. He could have been reading my mind.

All our minds.

Yes, indeed. I was going on to say that I was really pleased that USDAW, the shop workers’ union,...

Order. There are six Members standing to speak. I want to call the Front-Bench spokespeople at 3....

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir David. It is also a pleasure to follow the...

I agree with the hon. Gentleman that city centres have to look at other offers as well as retail ...

The future high streets fund is looking at how high streets can be transformed for the future, no...

I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Blaydon (Liz Twist) on opening the debate this after...

It is not only the impact on the shopping centres; there are also the centres in the outlying dis...

I agree wholeheartedly with my hon. Friend.

Disposable income is one of the big issues. Onl...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship this afternoon, Sir David. I thank the hon. Mem...

I agree on the point about quality. There should be a race to the top. Sometimes quality costs, s...

As someone whose mother worked in the pit canteen and made beds at Butlin’s on a Saturday, I full...

I extend my thanks to the hon. Member for Blaydon (Liz Twist) for obtaining the debate and introd...

It is an absolute pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir David. I thank my hon. Friend th...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir David. I, too, congratulate my hon. Friend...

Does my hon. Friend agree that it is rather confusing to look at the ownership of some of those b...

My hon. Friend and neighbour makes an excellent point. Indeed, the power that central Government ...

Order. Will the hon. Gentleman wind up?

I will, Sir David. When people see the household names going, the banks closing and the public se...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir David. I congratulate the hon. Member

To put that in context, when I look at my inbox I see a number of businesses have experienced a s...

Unfortunately, the hon. Gentleman is trying to punt a line that is not the fact. Through the smal...

Order. Will the hon. Gentleman bring his remarks to a close? I added a few minutes for earlier sp...

I will try, but there is a lot to say.

Unfortunately I cannot discuss the speech of the hon...

It is always a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir David. I congratulate my hon. Frien...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir David, and I congratulate the hon. Member ...

I am glad the Minister has mentioned the Retail Sector Council. I am curious as to what it has ac...

The hon. Gentleman is quite right. As he will know, when the Retail Sector Council was set up las...

Will the Minister agree to set up a retail sector deal to further promote the work of the retail ...

Absolutely, but the hon. Lady will know that all the sector deals are being driven by the sectors...

With not much time, Liz Twist to wind up.

3.59 pm

I thank all Members who have contributed to a lively and interesting debate on the retail sector....