内容摘要：But the number of casualties is likely to be significantly higher, because fatal accidents tend to go unrecorded on this route.

But the number of casualties is likely to be significantly higher, because fatal accidents tend to go unrecorded on this route.

Former Dragons' Den star Theo Paphitis, whose retail group includes the Ryman and Robert Dyas, told the BBC that the measure was ruining UK High Streets.Some retailers have argued that they are being undercut by overseas rivals, but a body representing small businesses said scrapping the exemption could raise costs for them and prices for customers.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced on Wednesday that the government planned to review the customs treatment of low-value products entering the UK following complaints from retailers.The explosion of parcels being shipped under the measure has prompted increased scrutiny in recent years. While all retailers use the exemption, those who sell fast-fashion and cheap goods have seen sales soar.It has fuelled the rise of Chinese retailers, such as online giants Shein and Temu, which ship low-value packages to the UK and other countries to reach millions of customers.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Paphitis said retailers had been lobbying government "for a very, very long time", arguing the rule had a devastating impact "on our retail landscape and our high streets".He joined the bosses of Sainsbury's, Currys and the British Retail Consortium in welcoming the government's consultation on the rule.

UK businesses bringing in larger shipments have to pay taxes, and they also argue that cheaper goods might fail to meet the same environmental and ethical standards that they have to keep to.

Aside from concerns over unfair competition with domestic retailers, it has also been raised that governments could be missing out on potential tax income.A spokesperson for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities said it would "continue to work with" the council "closely”.

. Instead, what happens if a council cannot balance its budget, is that its finance officer issues what is known as a Section 114 notice.This prevents the council from carrying out any new spending until it can balance its books again. It can mean councils then have to make cuts to non-statutory services to find savings.

Councils are required by law to produce a balanced budget and Havering, like other local authorities, has until early March to do that.Mr Morgon said the added spending pressures Havering had faced around social care and housing costs had made the financial situation more difficult.