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 in Kingston upon Hull North constituency have received Government funding for support during the cost of living crisis in 2022.

The Government recognises the impact rising prices are having on businesses.

Businesses in Kingston upon Hull North will have benefitted from the Government’s reversal of the National Insurance rise, saving SMEs approximately £4,200 on average; the cut to fuel duty for 12 months; and the Energy Bill Relief Scheme to protect SMEs from high energy costs over the winter. In addition, the Recovery Loan Scheme is available to SMEs across the UK. The Employment Allowance was increased to £5,000 from April and we have continued to provide business rate relief worth over £7bn, freezing the business rates multiplier for a further year.

The Government is also providing financial support through the Start Up loan scheme - 537 SMEs in Kingston upon Hull have received loans to the value of £ 4,042,768 as of November 2022.