Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to remove business rate relief for private schools.

As announced on 29 July 2024, the government will legislate to remove the eligibility of private schools in England to business rates charitable rates relief.

This was a tough but necessary decision that will secure additional funding to help deliver the government’s commitments relating to education and young people, including opening 3,000 new nurseries, rolling out breakfast clubs to all primary schools, and recruiting 6,500 new teachers.

The business rates policy change will be legislated for through a local government finance bill, led by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which will be introduced following the Budget and is intended to take effect from April 2025, subject to Parliamentary process.