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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2022 to Question 105543, on Business: Closures, what steps he taking to reduce the number of business deaths.

In a dynamic and competitive economy, a proportion of businesses will cease trading each year, for a range of reasons. The government does not view business deaths as a reliable indicator of competitiveness, or economic health.

Recognising the huge impact of the pandemic on businesses across the UK, this government has provided around £400 billion of direct support to the economy during this financial year and last, which has helped to safeguard jobs, businesses and public services in every region and nation of the UK. This includes a total of over £26bn in business grants.