Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans his Department has to make further funding available for the coronavirus Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund.

The Government has announced an unprecedented package of support for businesses to help with their ongoing business costs in recognition of the disruption caused by Covid-19. This package of support includes?the Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF) and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHLGF). As of 5 July, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council have paid out over £41.8 million in grants to 3,788 business premises under the SBGF and RHLGF.

On 1 May,?the Government announced that up to £617 million has been made available to Local Authorities?in England to allow them to provide discretionary grants.?Under the Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund (LADGF), Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council have an additional £2.1 million to deliver to further small businesses.

We appreciate that there?is substantial demand for the LADGF,?and the scheme will not be able to support every business. Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council will need to manage?their?scheme to stay within?their?funding?allocation?and?will have?to make choices about which businesses?to?prioritise.

Officials are keeping in close contact with Local Authorities?to understand how the schemes are rolling out and advising ministers on any additional support?which could be offered to help businesses and support local economies. No decisions have yet been taken, but the level of demand will continue to be monitored.