Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Local Restrictions Support grant will be available for (a) coach operators, (b) tour operators, (c) fairgrounds, (d) tour guides and (e) language schools.

Eligibility for the Local Restrictions Support Grant (and the new one-off cash grants of up to £9,000) will depend on businesses’ individual circumstances. Businesses in England are eligible if they:

- occupy property on which they pay business rates (and are the ratepayer)

- have been required to close because of the restrictions

- have been unable to provide their usual in-person customer service from their premises

Businesses which are not eligible for these grants for closed businesses, for example because they are not legally required to close or because they do not occupy business premises, may be able to benefit from the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG). We recently increased the funding available under this scheme to £1.6 billion across England. It is up to each local authority to determine eligibility for the ARG based on their assessment of local economic need; however, we encourage local authorities to support businesses which have been impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, but which are ineligible for the other grant schemes.

In addition to the grant schemes, we have made available a wider package of support including an extension of the furlough scheme until April; an extension of the COVID-19 loan schemes until March; a business rates holiday for all retail, hospitality and leisure business properties; mortgage holidays; enhanced Time to Pay for taxes; and VAT cuts and deferrals.