Non-domestic Rates

Business, Innovation and Skills written question – answered at on 9 June 2009.

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Photo of Adrian Sanders Adrian Sanders Opposition Deputy Chief Whip (Commons)

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the effects on business solvency and closures of levels of commercial rents.

Photo of Pat McFadden Pat McFadden Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation and Skills), Member, Labour Party National Executive Committee

No assessment has been made by this Department of the effects on business solvency and closures of the level of commercial rents.

While rent levels are a matter for the market, the Government are concerned to promote a fair and efficient commercial property leasing market, and to this end prompted the property industry to introduce a voluntary code of practice. They are monitoring the impact of the current version of the code, introduced in March 2007, and are looking to it to ensure that business tenants are better informed about leasing options.

The code for leasing business premises is available at the following web address:

http://www.leasingbusinesspremises.co.uk/

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