Theresa Villiers MP has a long track record of campaigning to support local town centres and in the early days of the second lockdown, she asked the Government for additional help for Barnet businesses hit by Covid.
In a debate on the forthcoming agenda in Parliament, the MP for Chipping Barnet asked the Leader of the House of Commons, Jacob Rees Mogg, to allow a debate on high streets and the financial support needed for independent retailers, pubs and restaurants.
More recently, she held a virtual meeting with Andrew Goodacre, the Chief Executive of the British Independent Retail Association (BIRA).
“I will always campaign to support local independent retailers,” Theresa said following the meeting.
“It was good to meet representatives of BIRA and here their views on how we help our local town centres adapt to new conditions so that they can flourish in the future," she continued. "I look forward to working with BIRA to campaign for a fair deal for small businesses in Barnet.”
“There is a long road ahead to bring the economy back to health after the massive damage caused by Covid. Creating the conditions for enterprise and small businesses to succeed and expand will be a crucial part of economic recovery.”
Theresa is a member of the Chipping Barnet Town Team which includes representatives of local community groups and traders and promotes Barnet Market and Barnet Town Centre. In the last Parliament, she was able to secure reductions in Business Rates from the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Prior to lockdown, Theresa carried out a range of visits to local pubs, shops and businesses to encourage her constituents to support them. She hopes to resume that activity after 2nd December, depending on whether new Covid Tier rules allow this.
Theresa’s question to Jacob Rees Mogg was reported in Hansard:
“Question: The Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP
May I follow up on the [earlier] question… about help for local high streets, because I think we need a debate about that? The Leader of the House spoke about the Towns Fund, which is doing great work, but it does not cover every local high street. We perhaps need a return to the grants that were available during the first lockdown, because small businesses on our local high streets that were just getting back on their feet before this lockdown are now being hit once again. We need time in the House to debate the future of our local high streets.
Answer: The Rt Hon Jacob Rees-Mogg MP
There is a great deal of discussion about local high streets, and it is worth reiterating what the Government have done in terms of economic support that has helped large and small businesses.
That support adds up to about £200 billion, including £40 billion on the furlough scheme that supported 9.6 million jobs, many of which will have been high street jobs. Three million self-employed individuals have been supported to a value of over £13.5 billion, and £21 billion has gone to coronavirus business interruption loans for small and medium-sized enterprises and large businesses.
Some £40 billion has gone to over 1.3 million bounce back loans, £11 billion in business grants, and £10 billion in business rates relief, which will particularly have helped smaller businesses. There has been £27 billion in VAT deferrals—again, helping high streets and nearly 500,000 businesses—and nearly £33 billion in the summer economic update. That important support is helping high streets and businesses across the country, and the Towns Fund on top of that will help high streets to be rejuvenated once the pandemic has ended.”
Please note that the photo was taken before face-coverings were required in shops.
