Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking in conjunction with local authorities to ensure that eligible businesses benefit from the forthcoming reduction in business rates as soon as that reduction comes into force.

The Government is working closely with local authorities to implement the retail discount announced at the Budget. In November the Department issued guidance to local authorities and will be providing new burdens funding to meet the costs of implementation. MHCLG will shortly be writing to authorities to remind them of the need to grant the relief to eligible businesses from April 2019 and to do all they can to ensure that businesses are aware of the support available.