PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE
Business Rates Relief: Music Venues - 21 May 2019 (Commons/Commons Chamber)
Debate Detail
Contributions from Sir Mel Stride, are highlighted with a yellow border.
Christian Matheson
City of Chester
12:12:44
Mel Stride
The Financial Secretary to the Treasury
We announced in the Budget that we were reducing business rates for small retailers and others by one third. Music venues are not specifically included, although local authorities may make some judgments around that. We, of course, keep all tax reliefs and taxes under review.
12:13:09
Christian Matheson
The music sector contributes billions to the economy and so much more in terms of life enrichment, but the opportunity pipeline is being constricted as music venues close under pressure. Will the Minister agree to just a small tweak to the retail discount scheme guidance to make it clear that music venues are eligible?
12:13:29
Mel Stride
Music venues are eligible for many of the reliefs, worth £13 billion over the coming years, we have introduced since 2016, as well as the switch from uprating the multiplier from RPI to CPI. Many benefit from small business rates relief as well. I will of course, as with all representations, take the hon. Gentleman’s comments on board and consider them going forward.
12:13:53
Martin Vickers
Cleethorpes
Not all of the small private hotels and guest houses in Cleethorpes are noted as music venues, but they would benefit from additional relief to their business rates. They are finding trading particularly difficult at the moment. Would the Minister look sympathetically on representations from them?
Mel Stride
In short, yes. I always look sympathetically on any representations to reduce taxation.
Mr Speaker
What an agreeable and benevolent fellow the Minister is. We are deeply obliged to him.
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