Antony Higginbotham
Main Page: Antony Higginbotham (Conservative - Burnley)Department Debates - View all Antony Higginbotham's debates with the HM Treasury
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Antony Higginbotham Excerpts(4 years, 2 months ago)
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Dr Kieran Mullan (Crewe and Nantwich) (Con)
What fiscal steps his Department is taking to support businesses affected by the covid-19 outbreak. [907760]
Antony Higginbotham (Burnley) (Con)
What fiscal steps his Department is taking to support businesses affected by the covid-19 outbreak. [907764]
Caroline Nokes (Romsey and Southampton North) (Con)
What fiscal steps his Department is taking to support businesses in sectors that remain subject to covid-19 restrictions. [907778]
Steve Barclay
My hon. Friend is right that there has been disruption to businesses in tier 2 areas. That is why my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has cut VAT from 20% to 5% and extended that to 31 March and also introduced a 12-month business rates holiday.
Antony Higginbotham
Over the last few days, businesses across Burnley and Padiham, from bookkeepers to bars and pubs, have had to close as the county of Lancashire has entered tier 3 restrictions. While it is welcome that those businesses are getting Government support through the extension of furlough and business grants, there are many more in the supply chain that will be equally impacted because their end suppliers are not there. Could my right hon. Friend set out what measures are available to support them over the next couple of months?
Steve Barclay
As a Lancastrian myself, I am acutely aware of the impact on the county of Lancashire, which is why my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government negotiated the additional business support. That builds on the measures set out by the Chancellor to support businesses not just through the job support scheme, but through the furlough bonus.