Mary Macleod MP persuades Chancellor to help 7,000 local businesses

7,000 business properties in the Hounslow Borough will benefit from a package to help the high street and support businesses announced at the Autumn Statement today.

Mary Macleod MP, who has been a leading voice in the campaign to support small businesses, has welcomed the news that will boost jobs and growth in Chiswick, Brentford, Isleworth, Osterley and Hounslow.

The package includes a business rate discount of up to £1,000 for retail premises, including shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants, as help for the high street.

Mary commented:

“I wanted the Government to listen to calls from local businesses and traders on business rates and they have. This week I met with the Prime Minister to put the case for a full business rates review as well as a cap on business rate increases.”

Measures announced include:

• A 2 per cent cap on everyone’s business rate increases.
• £1,000 off business rate bills for all retail premises with a rateable value up to £50,000 for 2014/15 and 2015/16. This includes shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants.
• A new reoccupation relief, which will halve the rates bills of businesses taking over premises empty for over a year.
• The doubling of Small Business Rate Relief is being extended to April 2015 and expanded.

Mary added:

“This help for the high street is so critical if we want them to survive and thrive. 7,000 businesses in the Hounslow Borough will benefit from the overall package of support – especially the shops, pubs, and cafes on our high streets. High street businesses are an important part of local life. This Government is backing local businesses all the way. Small Business Saturday this weekend is just one way that we are supporting local businesses. I hope you can join me to ‘Shop Local’ on Small Business Saturday.”