The UK chancellor has said 70,000 more businesses in England will pay no business rates under an increase in the threshold for small business rate relief, according to a clip published by BBC News and BBC Politics. The announcement concerns retail, hospitality and leisure businesses. In the supplied recording, the chancellor says the relief threshold will rise from £12,000 to £18,000, taking additional businesses out of paying business rates altogether. The chancellor tells MPs the change follows calls from members of the House, singling out the member for Makerfield. The recording presents the higher threshold as a response to those representations. According to the chancellor, the measure means half of shops, restaurants and gyms will pay no business rates. That is the chancellor’s stated assessment of the policy’s coverage; the supplied clip does not provide a supporting breakdown. For other businesses in the same sectors, the chancellor also promises to freeze rates in real terms, describing the aim as preventing increases above inflation. The excerpt does not state when the higher relief threshold will take effect or provide the detailed eligibility rules. Those details remain necessary for individual businesses to establish whether they qualify and how the announcement will affect their bills.
