Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent fiscal steps he has taken to support small businesses.

The Government's long-term economic plan is backing small businesses as they set up and grow. As part of this plan we are cutting taxes and reducing red tape to help businesses.

In particular, the employment allowance was introduced in April 2014, and allows businesses and charities throughout the UK to deduct up to £2,000 off their employer national insurance contributions (NICs) bill each year.

In addition, autumn statement 2013 announced the extension of the doubling of small business rate relief until April 2015, taking 350,000 small businesses out of business rates.