Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will provide additional assistance with business rates to nurseries and early years education centres following the end of the Business rates relief: nurseries discount scheme in April 2022.

The Government provided enhanced support to the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors, as well as nurseries, during the pandemic given the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions on high street footfall and nursery attendance.

In line with the Government roadmap to reopen the economy, nurseries are currently able to receive up to 66 per cent business rates relief until 31 March 2022. Although nurseries are no longer subject to COVID-19 restrictions, the Government will continue to provide support ahead of the revaluation in 2023. Freezing the multiplier for 2022-23 will support all ratepayers ahead of the revaluation in 2023, meaning bills are 3 per cent lower than without the freeze.

The COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund is designed to provide support to those businesses affected by COVID-19 that have not been covered by existing support linked to business rates. Nurseries received a full business rates holiday until 30 June 2021 and can claim a 66 per cent relief for the remainder of this financial year.