| answer text |
<p>We announced at the 2014 Autumn Statement an extra £650 million of support for
2015-16 bills, bringing the total support of 2013 and 2014 Autumn Statement polices
to £1.4 billion. This help includes:</p><p> </p><ul><li>doubling small business rate
relief for a further year. In England, this means an estimated 400,000 properties
will pay no rates at all, while a further 200,000 properties will benefit from tapered
relief;</li><li>a 2% cap on the increase of the small business rates multiplier. This
is a continuation of the 2% cap introduced in 2014-15 as part of Autumn Statement
2013 measures;</li><li>increasing the temporary discount for shops, pubs and restaurants
with rateable values below £50,000 from £1,000 to £1,500 for 2015-16, benefitting
an estimated 200,000 properties in England; and</li><li>extending the existing transitional
relief scheme for two years for properties with a rateable value up to and including
£50,000.</li></ul><p> </p><p>These measures are in addition to previous Autumn Statement
measures that continue into 2015-16, including:</p><p> </p><ul><li>a 50 per cent discount
for 18 months to new occupants of vacant shops;</li><li>allowing businesses to keep
their small business rate relief for a year where they take on an additional property;</li><li>business
rates relief for empty new builds; and</li><li>allowing businesses to pay their business
rate bills over 12 months, in order to assist with their cash flow.</li></ul><p> </p><p>
</p><p>We have also given councils powers to grant their own discounts and we now
fund 50% of any local discount granted. Authorities also have powers to grant hardship
relief.</p>
|
|
