| answer text |
<p>At Autumn Budget 2018, my rt. hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced
the Future High Streets Fund, which aims to invest £675m in England to support local
areas to develop and fund plans to make their high streets and town centres fit for
the future. Autumn Budget also announced a cut in business rates by one third for
the next two years for all retailers in England with a rateable value below £51,000,
worth almost £1bn to retailers.</p><p> </p><p>The industry-led Retail Sector Council
has agreed its priority work areas for the next two years, focusing on: costs to business,
skills and lifelong learning, employment protections, the circular economy, consumer
protections, and retail and the Industrial Strategy.</p><p> </p><p>A senior industry
figure is leading each of these work groups and will bring proposals for action for
both industry and government back to the Council for consideration. The Industrial
Strategy workstream is led by Sir Charlie Mayfield, Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership
and member of the Industrial Strategy Council, and will look at how the Industrial
Strategy can work to the benefit of the retail sector.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>As part
of the Industrial Strategy, and following the Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices,
the Government responded with the Good Work Plan, which will bring forward legislation
to extend workers’ rights, including for people who work in the retail sector. This
includes the introduction of new guidance to support the interpretation of holiday
pay rules, as well as the biggest ever increase to the National Living Wage. An awareness
campaign will be launched, targeted at both individuals and employers, to boost awareness
and understanding to help ensure all workers are benefiting from their paid entitlement
to leave. All these measures will improve the wages and working contracts of many
of those working in the retail sector.</p>
|
|
