Steve Brine took part in a debate on Business Rates in the House of Commons on Tuesday 2 April, where he raised the market town of Alresford.
The Winchester MP said that while he praised the discretionary rates scheme provided by Government and managed for the benefit of local businesses by Conservative run Winchester City Council, and the planned introduction of more regular revaluations, he believed it was time to look at a structural’ change and consider a fundamental review of non-domestic rates in line with the Government’s manifesto commitment.
He said: “I have the very pretty market town of Alresford in my constituency including a beautiful independent run book shop. People increasingly tell me they use the shop to look, use the shop to view, use the shop to try and the go online and buy the books.
“It is time to look at a more structural change, away from just property… to a more transaction based tax which might help book stores like the one I refer to in Alresford and countless other businesses in my constituency.”
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Laurence Oxley book shop