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Small Businesses: Rural Areas

Asked by Gareth DaviesConservativeDepartment for Business and TradeTabled Answered 10 June 2026UIN 6847

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to support SMEs in (a) Lincolnshire and (b) other rural areas with changes in (i) employment and (ii) energy costs.

Answered by Blair McDougall

The government is supporting small businesses, including those in Lincolnshire and rural areas, to start, scale and grow as part of the Plan for Small Businesses.

We are delivering our Plan to Make Work Pay by extending the protections already offered by many British employers to millions more workers across the country. We provide practical guidance and support for businesses and workers, alongside wider engagement and educational activity.

Government monitors the impact of international energy markets on businesses and stands ready to respond. The Chancellor recently announced that from 2027, the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will cut energy bills by up to 25% for over 10,000 manufacturers.

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