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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to support businesses seeking to appeal business rates valuations after changes in circumstances during the covid-19 pandemic.

The Government has announced an additional £1.5 billion business rates relief fund to support those businesses affected by the pandemic that have not otherwise been eligible for existing reliefs. My Department will publish guidance to help local authorities set up their local schemes once the legislation relating to COVID-19 Material Change of Circumstances provisions has passed.