Member

The noble Lord, Lord Fox, has pointed out that the Bill is not a comprehensive reform of the business rates system—he actually used the word “tinkering”. He is of course correct: the Bill does not deliver on the entirety of the Government’s ambitions in this space, and it has never tried to do so. The Government have been clear that the Bill is the first step. Transforming the business rates system to one that is fairer and that protects the high street, supports investment and is fit for the 21st century is a multi-year process and one that the Government will be delivering over this Parliament.