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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many small and medium-sized enterprises have received financial support from the Government in Portsmouth South constituency since 1st January 2022.

Businesses in Portsmouth South will have benefitted from the Government’s reversal of the National Insurance rise, which will save SMEs approximately £4,200 on average, cut to fuel duty for 12 months and the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, to protect small businesses from high energy costs over the winter. In addition, the Recovery Loan Scheme is available to SMEs across the UK.

The Government is also providing financial support for business through the Start Up loan scheme - 185 SMEs in Portsmouth South have received loans to the value of £1,595,221 as of October 2022.