Jim Shannon

Jim Shannon

Democratic Unionist Party — Strangford

Speaking in the House of Commons on 2 September 2026

Debate

Employer National Insurance Contributions: Small Businesses in Hampshire

Contribution

I commend the hon. Lady for securing this debate and I will echo both what she has said and what the hon. Member for Winchester (Dr Chambers) said in his intervention, because the situation is the same in Northern Ireland. According to the Northern Ireland inter-departmental business register, small businesses and microbusinesses make up the vast majority—about 90%—of Northern Ireland’s local economy, with almost 83,000 registered businesses employing fewer than 10 people. These businesses are not faceless conglomerates; they are the family-run corner shops, local butchers and small builders across my constituency and the constituency of the hon. Member for North East Hampshire (Alex Brewer). Echoing the hon. Lady’s opinion, the Federation of Small Businesses Northern Ireland has explicitly warned that these surging costs are forcing independent retailers to slash staff hours, cut back opening times and put growth on ice. Does she agree that this issue lies on the shoulders of Government and of the Minister in particular, and that this anti-business policy must stop before it pushes vital high street traders to the wall?

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