Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to monitor the economic effect of its covid-19 business support packages; and what the timeframe is for the introduction of the proposed business rates relief support scheme to bring the food and drink wholesale sector into line with their customers in the hospitality, tourism and retail sector.

The Government is keeping the support measures, including their effect on businesses and the economy, under constant review.

The Government has provided enhanced support through business rates relief to businesses occupying properties used for retail, hospitality and leisure given the direct and acute impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on those sectors.

A range of other measures to support all businesses, including those not eligible for the business rates holiday, such as wholesalers, has also been made available. On 8 July the Chancellor set out a package of measures to support jobs across the UK, including a Job Retention Bonus to help firms keep furloughed workers and a new £2 billion Kickstart Scheme to create hundreds of thousands of new, fully subsidised jobs for young people.