Clause 3 - Rate relief for rural food shops
Rating (Agricultural Premises and Rural Shops) Bill
12:30 pm
Mr Damian Green (Ashford, Conservative)
From a sedentary position, the Minister says that it is when it becomes an essential service. Under the Bill, however, if it is an essential service other than a food retailer, it will lose the relief. The Minister has shot herself in the foot. The Government are being unnecessarily petty in seeking to close loopholes; in deciding what village shops will have to do to survive, they are opposing the march of progress.
We have aired an important matter. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Clause 3 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clauses 4 and 5 ordered to stand part of the Bill.