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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that Government funding for local authorities to allocate to businesses affected by the covid-19 lockdown is being distributed so that closed businesses are able to access that funding as soon as possible.

The Government is working closely with local authorities in England to get funding out to businesses as quickly as possible. Local authority guidance was published on 3^rd November and grant offer letters were sent to local authorities on 6^th November. Payments to local authorities were made from 13^th November.

The Local Restrictions Support Grant (closed) is applicable in England only. The Devolved Administrations are responsible for the administration of support schemes in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.