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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many SMEs in Sefton Central constituency have received Government funding for support during the cost of living crisis.

Businesses in Sefton Central will have benefitted from the Government’s reversal of the National Insurance rise, which will save SMEs approximately £4,200 on average, cut fuel duty for 12 months and brought in the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, to protect small businesses from high energy costs over the winter. In addition, the Recovery Loan Scheme is available to SMEs across the UK.

The Government is also providing financial support for business through the Start Up loan scheme - 160 SMEs in Sefton Central have received loans to the value of £1,688,512 as of October 2022.