Retail Week Live: 'No easy answer on business rates', says Cable

Business Secretary Vince Cable said there is still “a sense of unfairness” between online and bricks-and-mortar retailers over business rates.

Cable told Retail Week that “there is no easy answer” as to whether online retailers should be taxed to level the playing field with physical retailers that have to pay business rates on their stores.

Business rates are a key concern for retailers who believe excessive rises to the property tax is restricting investment and job creation.

The Government has capped the rise due in April to 2% rather than the expected 3.2%.