LORELY LOBBIES CHANCELLOR TO CONTINUE EMPTY RATE RELIEF

11.25.30am GMT Tue 10th Nov 2009

Solihull's MP and Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Small Business, Lorely Burt is calling on the Government to retain a temporary rate relief on empty commercial properties, in an effort to aid the recovery of the town's economy.

The Chancellor, Alistair Darling MP, announced a temporary one year increase in the threshold exempting empty commercial properties from £2,200 up to £15,000 rentable value as a response to the credit crunch. Now nearly one year on, Lorely is writing to Mr. Darling asking him to keep the rate relief, which Lorely believes will continue to stimulate Solihull's economy.

Commenting today from Westminster, Lorely said:

"Empty property rates are a tax on hardship. They tax individuals and companies on assets that generate no income whatsoever.

"In what are still difficult times, we should not make things even worse for businesses: It's vital that local entrepreneurs can set up businesses on flexible terms in a professional environment, yet landlords are in danger of being taxed for providing this service.

"The entire business community has shown their opposition to this tax, with fairly reasoned arguments, backed up by hundreds of cases studies. All show the ill effects of this tax, leading to early demolition of buildings, shelved regeneration projects, the loss of inward and overseas investments in the UK economy and the loss of jobs and pensions.

"I will be writing to the Chancellor immediately to ask him to maintain this rate relief."

Lorely supported Business Organisations in lobbying the Chancellor to introduce the rate relief one year ago.