Parliamentary Activity - Gareth Thomas MP

Postal Services: Ashfield

Department for Business and Trade

Gareth Thomas received a response to a question they put to the government

The Government provides an annual £50m Network Subsidy funding to support the delivery of a minimum number of Post Office branches and a geographical spread of these branches in line with...

Topical Questions

Business and Trade

Gareth Thomas made a speech in the House of Commons

My hon. Friend will be aware that the Chancellor of the Exchequer recently announced £20.4 billion in investment for research and development for the next year, which will help to drive even...

Post Office Closures

Business and Trade

Gareth Thomas made a speech in the House of Commons

I recognise the significance of the post office in my hon. Friend’s constituency, as indeed I recognise the significance of post offices in my constituency and across the UK. It is...

Post Office Closures

Business and Trade

Gareth Thomas made a speech in the House of Commons

No decisions have been taken on the future of any directly managed branches, including in Chester-le-Street in my hon. Friend’s constituency. The Post Office continues to work with local...

Creative Industries

Business and Trade

Gareth Thomas made a speech in the House of Commons

I cannot follow the impressive nature of that question, but I can tell my hon. Friend that in the Budget my right hon. Friend the Chancellor confirmed a new independent film tax credit, which...

Creative Industries

Business and Trade

Gareth Thomas made a speech in the House of Commons

The creative industries are a huge force for good in our country. They were responsible for 2.4 million jobs last year, and more than £124 billion for our GDP in 2022. They are one of eight...

High Streets: Government Support

Business and Trade

Gareth Thomas made a speech in the House of Commons

Yes, we are determined to maintain and, indeed, strengthen the post office network. I suspect that the hon. Member will recognise that we inherited a Post Office with huge problems, which we are...

High Streets: Government Support

Business and Trade

Gareth Thomas made a speech in the House of Commons

Despite the considerable cold, I very much enjoyed my recent visit to Gateshead town centre, and I was impressed by the dynamism of the businesses that he and I met at his instigation in the...

High Streets: Government Support

Business and Trade

Gareth Thomas made a speech in the House of Commons

I commend my hon. Friend not only for his work recently on Small Business Saturday, but as the leader of Derby council in driving the town centre regeneration work that he mentioned. We are...

High Streets: Government Support

Business and Trade

Gareth Thomas made a speech in the House of Commons

I think the best advice I could give to businesses in the right hon. Member’s constituency is to never vote Conservative again. His and his party’s idea of good economics in...

High Streets: Government Support

Business and Trade

Gareth Thomas made a speech in the House of Commons

I commend my hon. Friend on her work with the Ramsgate empty shops action group. Her experience on her high street is sadly echoed up and down the country—under the Conservative party,...

High Streets: Government Support

Business and Trade

Gareth Thomas made a speech in the House of Commons

Working across government with mayors, local authorities and—crucially—local communities, we are beginning to tackle antisocial behaviour and crime, reforming business rates, working...

Co-operatives

Business and Trade

Gareth Thomas made a speech in the House of Commons

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to underline the positive community impacts that co-operatives, mutual businesses and social enterprises can have not only on our high streets, but in our...

Co-operatives

Business and Trade

Gareth Thomas made a speech in the House of Commons

The Government are committed to doubling the size of the mutuals and co-op sector. The creation of Great British Energy will help drive a significant expansion in the number of energy...

Hospitality Businesses

Business and Trade

Gareth Thomas made a speech in the House of Commons

I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman will have noticed that in the Budget, the Chancellor more than doubled the employment allowance to £10,500. That will mean that more than a million...

Hospitality Businesses

Business and Trade

Gareth Thomas made a speech in the House of Commons

The hon. Lady will know that the Chancellor of the Exchequer committed in the recent Budget to a series of reforms to business rates, including permanently lower business rates for hospitality...

Hospitality Businesses

Business and Trade

Gareth Thomas made a speech in the House of Commons

Hospitality businesses are at the heart of our communities and are vital for economic growth. The Government are creating a fairer business rates system, reducing alcohol duty on qualifying...

UK Exports

Business and Trade

Gareth Thomas made a speech in the House of Commons

We are looking at working with other GCAP partners. I was in Italy last month to discuss the further potential of GCAP, and other work that we can do with the Italians in this space, but that...

UK Exports

Business and Trade

Gareth Thomas made a speech in the House of Commons

My hon. Friend is absolutely right that we have to do more to help small businesses in particular, and businesses in general, to export more overseas. That is one of the key, but often...

UK Exports

Business and Trade

Gareth Thomas made a speech in the House of Commons

We recently launched Unlock Europe, a new export programme designed to help UK businesses build stronger relationships with European customers. Last month, in Manchester, my right hon. Friend the...