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 prevent an increase in unemployment in (a) York and (b) England as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

The government has announced a package of support for businesses to help with their ongoing business costs and prevent an increase in unemployment in recognition of the disruption caused by Covid-19. This package of support includes?the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHLGF) and the?Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF).

The SBGF and RHLGF have supported many thousands of small businesses?with their ongoing business costs in recognition of the disruption caused by Covid-19.?As of 7 June, £10.23 billion has been paid out to over 954,000 business properties under the two schemes, and the City of York Council has paid grants to 3,280 business premises, totalling £43,675,000.

In addition, on?1 May,?the Business Secretary announced that up to £617 million is being made available to Local Authorities?in England to allow them to provide discretionary grants.?The?Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund is aimed at small businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs but not liable for business rates or rates reliefs.

We are working closely with all local authorities to get remaining funding to businesses as quickly and efficiently as possible.