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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what additional support he plans to make available to businesses that remain closed as a result of covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

The Government has introduced a comprehensive package of support to help businesses during this difficult period. These include the small business grants, the coronavirus loan schemes, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, deferral of VAT and income tax payments, and more.

There has been significant support to date, and there is still funding to be disbursed. BEIS will continue to work closely with local authorities, businesses, and business representative organisations to understand whether there is additional need.

The Government’s priority has been to act to reduce the high levels of Covid-19 infection and, ultimately, it is only by controlling the virus that lockdowns can be lifted, allowing businesses to reopen and operate more normally.