Covid-19: Small Businesses

Lord Cotter Excerpts

Thursday 29th October 2020 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Lord Cotter]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to support small businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Lord Callanan) (Con)]

My Lords, the Government have introduced an unprecedented and comprehensive package of financial support, with a total fiscal response of close to £200 billion. The measures introduced, including government-backed loan guarantee schemes, grant funding and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme have been designed to be accessible to most businesses and sectors across the UK. We continue to keep this support under review, with further measures announced by the Chancellor that build on the significant support already available.

[Lord Cotter (LD)]

Coming from a small business background as I do, I thank the Minister for the Answer. I shall quote my local paper’s warning from local stores:

“Use us or lose us”.


Business rates are a real burden these days, as before. May I urge the Minister to look at these issues with renewed emphasis?

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

I totally agree with the noble Lord’s sentiments. As he is probably aware, we have launched a fundamental review of business rates, which will build on the changes that we are making to the system, worth more than £23 billion to businesses over the next five years.