Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of reforming of the business rates system for pubs.

At Autumn Statement 2022, the Government announced a package of support worth £13.6 billion over the next five years. Together with the revaluation, this package ensures bills will more accurately reflect current market values whilst protecting businesses from large bill increases.

The retail, hospitality and leisure sectors will benefit from over £2 billion in support in 2023-24, with eligible properties receiving 75% off their bills, up to a cap of £110,000 per business. The Government is also delivering significant reform with an Exchequer funded Transitional Relief scheme worth £1.6 billion over the next three years. This will protect an estimated 700,000 properties from large bill increases and will also enable around 300,000 ratepayers with decreasing rateable values to benefit from a full fall in their bill on 1 April 2023.