Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential merits of extending the business rates holiday for nurseries to 2021-22.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, and other ministers in the department, meet regularly with colleagues to discuss the department’s agenda.

In March, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced that childcare providers would be eligible for a business rates holiday for one year. Guidance on this is available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/business-rates-nursery-childcare-discount-2020-to-2021-coronavirus-response-local-authority-guidance.

Further guidance on business support grant funds is available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-business-support-grant-funding-guidance-for-businesses.

There are no current plans to further extend the business rates holiday, but we will continue to monitor the market.