Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are providing to small businesses experiencing financial pressure as a result of customers being unable to afford items or services because of inflation.

The government aims to make the UK the best place in the world to start, scale up, and grow a business. Our Business Support Helpline and Growth Hubs provide expert advice, guidance, and signposting to all types of business. The Government-backed British Business Bank (BBB) improves access to finance for business.

In the 2023 Autumn Statement, the chancellor announced further measures to support small businesses. The Small Business Rate Relief is available to businesses, and eligible properties will receive 100 per cent relief, which means around a third of businesses in England (713,000) will pay no business rates at all.