If elected, a Conservative government would be determined to provide the best environment for retailers to prosper again, writes Shadow Business Minister Mark Prisk.

The importance of the retail sector to the UK economy is often undervalued. Retailing represents 8% of our GDP and it employs roughly 3 million people. Indeed, for many young people it is their first experience of work.

If elected, a Conservative government would be determined to provide the best environment for retailers to prosper again.

That means tackling the public sector deficit straight away, so that we can keep interest rates lower for longer. Putting off the problem will only make it worse.

It also means helping retail employers keep their costs down. Hence our determination to stop Labour’s planned 1% rise in National Insurance contributions from next year. This will save thousands of jobs, especially in retailing.

However, a Conservative government would go even further. We want to help struggling town centres adapt and compete; we want to strengthen skills in the sector; and we want to enable small shops to start, grow and compete.

Labour has recently loosened planning policy to enable more out-of-town developments to proceed. This could badly undermine town centres, many of which are already struggling to compete.

So we will make two important changes to help town centres adapt and compete. First we will re-adopt the needs test in planning, to put town centres first. Then we will amend the Use Classes Order so buildings can have their use changed, within a range allowed in the local plan. This flexibility reflects how consumer demand is increasingly seeking a mix of retail, leisure and service. Our policy will cut red tape.

A Conservative government will strengthen skills in the sector. We intend to reform and reduce the bureaucracy that trainees and employers currently have to endure. We intend to create an additional 100,000 apprenticeships, for people of all ages, and will provide a £2,000 bonus for small and medium-sized businesses for each apprenticeship they complete.

A Conservative government strongly values the role of small shops. They provide diversity for consumers as well as local employment and are vital to a vibrant retail centre. So we will make small business rate relief automatic for them, saving eligible shops up to £1,200 a year. New businesses will also benefit from our plans to abolish the tax on jobs for the first 10 employees during their first year.

We will also review the proposed ban on tobacco retail displays. The current ban could prove very costly for small shops. Our aim is to consult on alternatives that will enable us to tackle underage smoking while not inhibiting an adult’s freedom to choose.

Equally, we are committed to establishing an Ombudsman to enforce the Grocery Supply Code of Practice. Operating as a unit within the Office of Fair Trading, the Ombudsman will help ensure good practice and more choice for consumers.

Together these policies will help renew our town centres, improve skills and enable small shops to grow and prosper. The next few years for retailing won’t be easy but with a change of government we can give the sector the best possible chance.

Mark Prisk is the Shadow Business Minister