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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure funds available via the Additional Restrictions Grant scheme are adequate to meet local demand; if he will make it his policy to (a) amend the terms of the that grant scheme to cover 5 November to 2 December 2020 and (b) allocate new funding through business support grants during local covid-19 lockdown restrictions; and if he will make a statement.

We have been clear that the Additional Restrictions Grant is a one-off payment to local authorities, providing them with funding to provide discretionary support to businesses.

Local authorities have the discretion to use their Additional Restrictions Grant allocation as they see fit, at any point up to the end of financial year 2021/22. We will continue to monitor the support needs of businesses and the local economy.

During the recent period of national lockdown in England, local authorities have also been provided with funding to support closed businesses, with grants of up to £3000 via the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed).

This support for closed businesses will continue when the local restrictions start on 2^nd December. Local authorities in Tiers 2 and 3 will be provided funding to allow them to continue their support to closed businesses.

The Local Restrictions Support Grant (Open) will provide further discretionary funding to local authorities in Tiers 2 and 3 after the period of national restrictions to allow them to support businesses that are not required to close, but which will have their trade affected by the restrictions.