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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that business sectors which have been unable to access Government-backed finance in the past are able to access the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans Scheme and other Government-backed loan schemes.

The Government has responded to helpful feedback to ensure that companies feel the full benefits of available support.

The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) is open to eligible businesses operating in most sectors. Unlike Enterprise Finance Guarantee, road haulage, fishery, aquaculture and agriculture businesses can access facilities up to the maximum of £5m available. Fishery, aquaculture and agriculture businesses may not qualify for the full interest and lender-levied fee payment paid by government.

The Government has:

• Extended the scheme so that all viable small businesses affected by Covid-19, and not just those unable to secure regular commercial financing, are now eligible if the lender believes they need finance to see them through these unprecedented times.
• Removed the requirement that the relevant applicant not be a business, employer, professional, religious or political membership organisation or a trade union in order to be eligible for CBILS.
• Announced the launch of the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme to support all larger viable businesses with an annual turnover of £45 million and above.