Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nick de Bois and Robert Neill

Thursday 15th July 2010 Commons Chamber

[Dan Byles (North Warwickshire) (Con)]

12. What steps he is taking to assist small businesses with payment of business rate bills.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Robert Neill)]

We are doubling the level of small business rate relief in England for one year, from 1 October 2010. More than 500,000 businesses in England are expected to benefit, with approximately 345,000 businesses paying no rates. That will be a valuable reduction in fixed costs for new and existing small businesses.

[Nick de Bois]

In Enfield North, we have been campaigning hard to bring in new businesses and start-ups and to encourage people to relocate to the area. What practical steps will the Under-Secretary take to allow my local authority to get behind that campaign?