BORIS Johnson has been quizzed on what the Government is doing to boost high streets in East Lancashire’s towns.

Burnley MP Antony Higginbotham raised the issue with the Prime Minister in the House of Commons.

The Conservative backbencher asked Mr Johnson: “Like other town centres across the UK, Burnley has been seeing the evolution of its high street through mixing retail with leisure, which plays a significant role in increasing footfall, and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises.

“With that in mind, I thank you and Chancellor Rishi Sunak for the measures announced in the Budget.

“Will you commit to doing whatever it takes to support our small and medium-sized enterprises so that our high streets can buzz once again?”

Mr Johnson replied: “That is exactly why we have cut business rates. We are making very considerable sums available for small and very ​small businesses precisely to protect the high street and enterprise environment on which so many jobs depend.”