Business Rates — Action to Ease Burden — 4 Dec 2013 at 19:53

The majority of MPs voted against action to ease the burden of business rates.

The motion approved in this vote was:

• That the proposed words be there added.

The effect of the vote was to replace a motion, the operative element of which stated:

• That this House:
• calls on the Government to take action to ease the burden of business rates on all sectors.

with an alternative motion saying:

• That this House:
• acknowledges that this Government is taking decisive action to back business and make Britain’s economy work for everyone;
• notes that the Government has cut business rates, National Insurance and corporation tax for small firms despite the need to tackle the deficit left by the last Administration;
• observes that the value of small business rate relief has trebled since the general election and small business rate relief will be considered in the Autumn Statement;
• notes how the overall multiplier has been frozen in real terms;

applauds the abolition of the unfair port taxes;

• welcomes the Localism Act which has made small business rate relief easier to claim and allows councils to introduce local discounts;

notes with approval the rate relief in 24 enterprise zones;

• further welcomes the new empty rate relief for new build in contrast to the last Administration’s increases in empty rates;

endorses the way in which local rate retention now gives councils new incentives to support local enterprise; and

• rejects the policy proposals from Her Majesty’s Opposition on rates which would involve increasing corporation tax on all firms, undermining British jobs and businesses.”

Debate in Parliament | Source |