Alex Ballinger

Alex Ballinger

Labour — Halesowen

Speaking in the House of Commons on 17 June 2026

Debate

High Street Shops: Illicit Activity

Contribution

Yes. It is a really positive development, because it allows His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, trading standards and the police to investigate properly in those 12 months and build a case so that they can go after not just the shop but the people behind it. On Cradley Heath High Street, there is something that sits right in our faces: we have 12 mini-markets and vape shops right opposite the largest Tesco in the area. Although last year the Chartered Trading Standards Institute ranked Birmingham as the country’s No. 1 hotspot for dodgy shops, it is undeniable that the problem is going over the border into the Black Country and affecting our area.

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