To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Prime Minister of 22 February 2017, how the hardest cases of small businesses that are particularly affected by the business rates revaluation will be defined and identified; how appropriate relief will be calculated; for how long such relief will apply; how much new funding will be made available for transitional relief; and if he will make a statement.

A £3.6 billion transitional relief scheme will provide support to properties which face an increase in rates. My Department is working closely with the Treasury to determine how best to provide further support to businesses facing the steepest increases. We expect to be in a position to make an announcement on this at the Budget.