Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what recent steps he has taken to support access to finance for SMEs in (a) Lincolnshire and (b) other rural areas.

The government is committed to improving access to finance, helping smaller businesses in Lincolnshire and across the United Kingdom secure the funding they need to grow and drive economic growth.

The Business Growth Service (BGS) www.business.gov.uk, launched in July 2025, makes it easier for UK businesses to get the advice and support they need to thrive both domestically and internationally.

At the Spending Review 2025, the government increased British Business Bank's financial capacity by two-thirds (£9.6 billion) to £25.6 billion making access to finance easier for SMEs.

Specific support for Lincolnshire, including information on accessing finance is also provided via Business Lincolnshire www.businesslincolnshire.com.