Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effects of business rates on independent shops. [153055]

Brandon Lewis, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State: Our commitment to hold business rate rises to the annual retail prices index cap means there has been no real terms increase in business rates since 1990. In addition, we have also postponed the revaluation of business premises from 2015 to 2017 to provide certainty and stability; doubled the level of small business rate relief for a further year (the whole of 2013-14); made it easier to claim small business rate relief; and given authorities powers to provide their own business rates discounts, as they see fit.

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