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Written Question
Non-domestic Rates
Monday 8th February 2021

Asked by: Baroness Thornhill (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the transitional relief arrangements established for the 2017 business rates revaluation will be amended for the coming rate year in order for businesses who have not yet received the full benefits of the reduction in their rateable value at the 2017 revaluation to see their rates bills fall.

Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton

The Government has no immediate plans to change transitional relief arrangements. Transitional relief must strike a balance between supporting businesses with both rising and falling bills as a result of the revaluation.

Businesses in downwards transitional arrangements will still have their bills reduced next year at the capped rate in the normal way.

The fundamental review of business rates will consider all parts of the business rates system, including reliefs.


Written Question
Dental Services and Football: Coronavirus
Monday 7th December 2020

Asked by: Baroness Thornhill (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether (1) private dental practices, and (2) the English Football League Championship, were excluded from COVID-19 financial support schemes; and if so, why.

Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton

The Government has set out a range of measures of support for private dental practices and the English Football League Championship during the Covid-19 outbreak. These include the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, Coronavirus Bounce Back Loan, Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and further measures to support all businesses, such as tax deferrals, business rates relief and support with Statutory Sick Pay.


Written Question
Business: Coronavirus
Wednesday 6th May 2020

Asked by: Baroness Thornhill (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of the funding available to support businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic has been allocated to date.

Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton

The Government has announced unprecedented support for business and workers to protect them against the current economic emergency including an initial £330 billion of guarantees – equivalent to 15% of UK GDP. We have taken further steps to give businesses access to cash to pay rent, salaries or suppliers, alongside a commitment to pay 80% of the regular monthly wages, up to £2,500, of furloughed workers for four months, via the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS).

So far over £15 billion has been issued through the Bank of England’s Covid Corporate Finance Facility (CCFF) and over £4.4 billion through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) (as of 30 April). On 20 April the Government launched the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS), and the first CLBILS loans have already been agreed. The Bounce Back Loan scheme launched on 4 May. Together these measures ensure almost all viable UK businesses can apply for a government backed loan.

The CJRS went live on 20 April. There is no limit on the amount of funding available for the CJRS.

All eligible businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors will pay no business rates in England for 12 months from 1 April. This support is worth over £9.5 billion to businesses. In addition, all business are able to defer VAT for up to 12 months which is worth over £30 billion or 1.5% of GDP.

The Small Business Grant Fund and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund are already making a real difference to many thousands of businesses across the UK, which have received a total of over £8.6 billion since the schemes were launched.


Written Question
Non-domestic Rates: Coronavirus
Tuesday 5th May 2020

Asked by: Baroness Thornhill (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to extend the business rate relief scheme to other sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton

The Government has provided enhanced support to the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors through business rates relief given the direct and acute impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on those sectors.

A range of further measures to support all businesses, including those not eligible for the business rates holiday, has also been made available. For example, the Government has launched the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to help firms continue to keep people in employment and the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme offering loans of up to £5 million for SMEs through the British Business Bank backed by an 80% Government guarantee, and has deferred VAT payments for this quarter.