Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to ensure that levels of business rates do not put the future of small businesses at risk.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has committed to completing a major review of business rates by the end of 2015.

Autumn Statement 2014 announced a £1bn package of measures to reduce the burden of business rates, focussed on small businesses and retailers, including:

· extending the doubling of the Small Business Rate Relief until April 2016;

· continuing the 2% cap on the inflation-linked increase in the business rates multiplier until April 2016; and

· increasing the retail discount for shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants until April 2016