INDEPENDENT RETAIL SHOPS

That this House notes with concern the decrease in the number of independent shops in town high streets; calls for the reinvigoration of the diversity and character of those high streets; further calls for well thought-out parking policies, coupled with sensible administration of those policies to help regenerate towns; recognises that crime against business makes up 20 per cent. of recorded crime and needs further addressing; further recognises the need to ensure that small businesses are helped to compete fairly with larger more established stores; and urges local authorities and central government to help in that objective.