Jul 28th, 2021
2 mins
Updated: 21/09/2021 – The Business Rates Relief Fund bill is due to have a second reading in The House of Lords on the 26th October.
The Federation keeps chasing Government for an update on when the additional £1.5BN of funding will be released. This was announced in March as ‘immediate support’ for the many companies, such as BFFF members, that were the ‘Squeezed Middle’ and had received minimal support from Government.
We are now advised that a debate on this funding is scheduled for 9th September 2021. We have also been advised that only once the funding is freed will the details of the full application process be announced.
We remain somewhat bemused that ‘immediate support’ announced in March is still not available. When the additional funding was announced the Secretary of State at the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government Robert Jenrick said (and I quote), “This is the fastest and fairest way of getting support to businesses who need it the most.”
The Federation will continue to press on this issue.
