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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many SMEs in Leeds North West constituency have received Government funding for support in 2022.

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

Businesses in Leeds North West will have benefitted from the Government’s reversal of the National Insurance rise, saving SMEs approximately £4,200 on average, the cut to fuel duty for 12 months and raising the Employment Allowance to £5,000. In addition, we have brought in the Energy Bill Relief Scheme to protect SMEs from high energy costs over the winter.

The Government is also providing financial support through the Start Up loan scheme - 138 SMEs in Leeds North West have received loans to the value of £1,447,433 as of October 2022.