Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what financial support the Government is making available to businesses entering Tier 4 covid-19 lockdown areas.

Throughout this crisis, the Government has sought to support businesses, jobs and public services up and down the UK. That is why it has spent over £280 billion to make a package of support available for businesses which has included billions in wage support, loans, tax deferrals, Business Rate reliefs and general and sector-specific grants.

As measures to control the virus change, it is right that government support should also evolve. However, the Tier 4 restrictions introduced in December to control the spread of the virus were broadly similar to those implemented nationwide in November. As such, the existing financial support measures for businesses entering Tier 4 were maintained.

The Government recognises that the latest national lockdown, while necessary to save lives and protect the NHS, will lead to further challenges for businesses. That is why we are providing additional funding for businesses worth £4.6 billion across the UK. All businesses in England which are legally required to close as a result of this lockdown will receive one-off grants of up to £9,000. We are also providing all English local authorities with an additional £500m of discretionary business grant funding.