Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many small and medium-sized enterprises in Washington and Sunderland West constituency received Government funding for support during the cost of living crisis in 2022.

The Government recognises the impact rising prices are having on businesses.

Businesses in Washington and Sunderland will have benefitted from the Government’s reversal of the National Insurance rise, saving SMEs approximately £4,200 on average, cut to fuel duty for 12 months and the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, to protect SMEs from high energy costs over the winter.

Support is also available to SMEs across the UK through the Recovery Loan Scheme and the Start Up loan scheme which has provided – 126 SMEs in Washington and Sunderland West loans to the value of £1,096,634 as of October 2022.