COVID-19: Update: Treasury says NO to business rates relief for private practices

COVID-19: Update: Treasury says NO to business rates relief for private practices

Replying to a Parliamentary Question, Jesse Norman MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury said that the Government did not consider properties providing medical services were eligible for a business rates ‘holiday’. This despite repeated pressure from MPs across the House, the BDA and the newly formed British Association of Private Dentistry.

The Minister was replying[i] to a series of questions by Sarah Olney, Lib Dem MP for Richmond Park and their spokesperson on business, who asked what plans the Treasury had to extend business rates relief to dental surgeries, ophthalmologists, veterinary practices and physiotherapy practices.

Jesse Norman MP replied that the recently published guidance for local authorities had set out that the Government “did not consider properties providing medical services to be eligible for the business rates holiday for retail, hospitality and leisure properties.” He added that a ‘range of further measures’ to support all businesses, including those not eligible for the business rates holiday, had also been made available.

This apparent rejection was despite pressure being put on Government by MPs, the media and the  BDA. In a blog[ii], chief executive, Martin Woodrow, described the BDA’s campaign to help private dental practices.  He said they had been writing to the Chancellor on a regular basis to stress that ‘unless urgent action is taken many dental practices across the country will not recover from the COVID-19 crisis’.

He said that ‘by harnessing the growing momentum from our campaign’ they had now garnered cross-party support for private practices.

He said their requests were to: 

  • Raise the £50,000 cap on support through the Self-employment Income Support Scheme
  • Ensure easier access to the CBIL scheme
  • Extend business rates relief to all practices.”

Martin continued: “To make sure your voices are heard, our General Dental Practice Committee has set up its own group to look at the specific needs of private practice during the pandemic. This new sub-group provides a forum in which to discuss the specific issues facing private practice. They will guide us as we continue to press the government to act and will provide a strong voice for private dentists within the BDA.” He added: “We are also liaising with other groups making the case on behalf of private practice, such as the new British Association of Private Dentistry.”

[i] https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2020-04-24.39705.h&s=Dental

[ii] https://www.bda.org/news-centre/blog/Pages/Coronavirus-Our-campaign-to-help-private-dental-practices--.aspx

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