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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the localised administration of the Additional Restrictions Grant, what mechanism exists for people whose place of business and home address fall under the jurisdictions of different local authorities.

The Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) allows Local Authorities to put in place discretionary business support. Local Authorities are free to provide support that suits their local area, including to support those businesses not required to close but which have had their trade severely affected by the restrictions, and those businesses that fall outside the business rates system such as market traders. At Budget on 3 March, the Chancellor announced an additional £425 million would be made available via the ARG, meaning that more than £2 billion has been made available to Local Authorities since November 2020.

Businesses can apply for a grant from the Local Authority to which it pays business rates. Businesses that do not pay business rates can apply to the Local Authority where the business is located. For example, if a business is based in Derby but registered in a different Local Authority, then it would apply for a grant from Derby City Council.