Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps she is taking to help improve small business confidence in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.

The government recommitted to the devolution agreement with Greater Lincolnshire in September 2024, meaning that Greater Lincolnshire is now receiving £24 million as Mayoral Investment Funding each year as per their devolution agreement.

Through the Levelling Up Fund, the government is providing £10 million for ‘Thriving Gainsborough’, improving the marketplace and increasing footfall, investment and employment.

More generally, the government recently published ‘Backing your business: our plan for small and medium-sized businesses’ which set out a long-term direction for the Government’s support for smaller firms across the country. This included going further than any previous government with the most significant package of legislative reforms in 25 years to tackle late payments, unlocking billions of pounds in finance to support businesses to invest, removing unnecessary red tape, revitalising the high street as a place to do business, and delivering growth boosting support with a new Business Growth Service to unlock business potential.