The Government has ‘no plans' to scrap business rate relief for charities despite calls from councils and a group of MPs.

A report by the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee said the 80% ‘blanket reduction has loopholes which can be abused by businesses purporting to be charities'.

The report read: ‘It also has the potential for charities to threaten other shops, especially bookshops, which have to pay the full amount of business rates.