Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury

HM Treasury

1 Horseguards Road

London SW1A 0AA

Date:  March 11th, 2013

Dear David,

BUSINESS RATES AND EXTENSION OF RELIEF FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

I am writing to you with reference to the Early Day Motion 783, printed overleaf for ease of reference.

There is real concern amongst small businesses in my constituency that the threshold for receipt of tapered relief needs to be raised.  As you will be aware from EDM 783, I am backing this call. 

I was, of course, pleased that in the Autumn Statement the Government announced it would be continuing the 100 per cent relief on business rates for properties with a rateable value of £6,000 or less beyond this month. 

However, I still believe further action from Government is needed.  As you know, business rates are the third biggest expense for many small businesses after rent and wages.  Therefore, I am writing to you ahead of the budget to reiterate the call for the Treasury to increase the threshold from £12,000 to £15,000 of rateable value for the receipt of tapered relief, with this increase in relief funded by the Treasury.

I should be grateful for your response to this letter.

Yours sincerely,

Caroline Lucas MP, Brighton Pavilion