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

If he will increase the level of the top-up to the local business grant funds scheme made available to local authorities to support small businesses during the covid-19 outbreak.

So far, over £10.2 billion has been paid to over 832,000 businesses through the Small Business Grant and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants. Over £40 million has supported 2,447 business premises in Richmond Upon Thames and an additional £2.1 million is available to them as part of the Local Authority Discretionary Grant Fund. My officials continue to monitor the roll-out of the scheme and levels of demand.