Written questions

Retail Trade: Crime

Commons · Question 3109 · Tabled 19 May 2026 · Department for Business and Trade · Official record

Answered 28 May 2026

Question

Asked by Andrew Snowden

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of illegal activities in high street businesses on legitimate businesses.

Answer

Answered by Blair McDougall, 28 May 2026

The criminal exploitation of the high street has a significant impact on communities and erodes public trust in legitimate businesses. It undermines competition, discourages investment, and contributes to the decline of once-thriving high streets.The Home...