Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what mechanisms her Department plans to put in place to help detect (a) fraudulent and (b) incorrect claims for retail, hospitality and leisure business rate relief relief in the context of the (i) cash cap and (ii) minimal financial assistance limit; and whether any public body is responsible for cross-local authority checks.

The administration of business rates, including billing, enforcement and decisions on the award of relief, is the responsibility of local billing authorities. They do so having regard to the guidance published by the government

As the guidance sets out, the government and billing authorities will not tolerate any business falsifying their records or providing false evidence to gain a discount on their business rates bill, including claiming support above the cash cap. Local authorities have powers to combat fraud, and any ratepayer who falsely applies for any relief, or who provides false information or makes false representation to gain relief, may be guilty of fraud under the Fraud Act 2006. The government is committed to making further progress to tackle business rates avoidance, in line with the ambitions of Transforming Business Rates.