Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of removing business rates for live music venues.

At Autumn Budget 2021, the Government announced a new temporary relief worth almost £1.7 billion for eligible retail, hospitality, and leisure businesses in England to support local high streets as they adapt and recover. Eligible properties, which will be confirmed in guidance shortly, will receive up to 50 per cent off their rates bill, subject to a £110,000 cash cap per business. This builds on over £16 billion of support already provided to these high street sectors during the pandemic.