Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will exempt Local Community Energy Schemes from paying business rates; and if he will make a statement.

At Budget 2016 the government announced cuts in business rates benefiting all ratepayers which are worth almost £9 billion over the next 5 years. In addition, the government set out a £435 million package of measures to support those businesses most impacted by the recent revaluation. The government keeps business rates under review and routinely meets stakeholders to discuss the business rates system.