Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential benefits of extending business rates relief to include grassroots music venues.

Grassroots venues are a vital part of the UK’s live music ecosystem which contributes around £1bn a year to our economy. We are aware of the concerns around grassroots venues and will continue exploring a range of issues affecting them with industry and government to help protect and grow this important sector.

Since 2016 the Government has cut business rates for all ratepayers, announcing reforms which will reduce business rates by more than £13 billion over the next five years. Local authorities also have powers to support specific sectors in their local area through the existing system of discretionary reliefs.