Clause 63 - Small business relief
Local Government Bill
3:30 pm
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold, Conservative)
This is an incredibly complicated clause that deals with large numbers of formulae. Hon. Members will see that the formulae start on page 25 and go on to page 26. If they are still awake by page 27, pages 28 and 29 will certainly send them to sleep.
We accept that small businesses have higher proportionate costs. We therefore welcome the small business relief that the clause provides. However, we
note that the maximum qualifying threshold E—introduced in proposed new section 44(9) under subsection (5)—is to be prescribed. I understand that the reason for that is that there is a maximum up to which small businesses still qualify for small business relief. I would like to probe the Minister on that maximum.
I understand that the current maximum is £8,000. The Small Business Bureau believes that it should be £10,000, with a buffer of up to £25,000.