Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the cost to the public purse was of refunds to businesses which successfully appealed the amount they were asked to pay in business rates in (a) each English local authority area and (b) in total by region of England in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Refunds to businesses as a result of successful appeals are made by the relevant billing authority. The Department does not hold data on the total cost of refunds resulting from appeals.