Non-domestic Rates: Coronavirus

(asked on 21st April 2020) - View Source

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the 100 per cent business rates holiday for the next 12 months to “all leisure business in England”, announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 17 March, will cover the offices of such businesses, including theatre production offices and places used for content production such as studios; and what guidance they have provided to local authorities about that business rates holiday.


Answered by
 Portrait
Lord Agnew of Oulton
This question was answered on 5th May 2020

The Government has provided enhanced support to the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors through business rates relief given the direct and acute impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on those sectors. The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government published updated guidance on 25 March.

A range of further measures to support all businesses, including those not eligible for the business rates holiday, such as creative industry businesses, has also been made available. For example, the Government has launched the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to help firms continue to keep people in employment and the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme offering loans of up to £5 million for SMEs through the British Business Bank, backed by an 80% Government guarantee, and is deferring VAT payments for this quarter.

The Government will consider any further financial assistance necessary to help businesses get through this period.

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