Government Policy On Business Rates

EDM number 2373 in 2007-08, proposed by Eric Pickles on 29/10/2008.
Categorised under the topics of Companies, Small businesses, Taxation and Economic policy.

That this House expresses concern at the damaging effect of the Prime Minister's £1 billion a year stealth tax hike on empty properties; notes that this will particularly harm local firms in an economic downturn; criticises the Government's plans to impose supplementary business rates on local business with no ability for firms to endorse or reject the rate; questions why transitional rate relief will not apply to supplementary rates; observes the burden on small firms of having to claim small business rate relief, while medium and large firms are automatically hit with a higher multiplier; is concerned by the actions of the Valuation Office Agency for its retrospective tax increases on ports; and believes that the Government's business rates policies are harming the economic viability of British business.

This motion has been signed by a total of 44 MPs.