It was a pleasure to welcome the Minister for Regional Growth and Tourism, Simon Clarke MP, to Cornwall last week to show him how local businesses are adapting for a busy summer season.
Before his visit, the Minister announced a further package of £20 million in new funding to help small businesses recover from Covid-19. This is in addition to the £10 million to support small businesses in the tourism industry. I discussed with the Minister how this money can be accessed by Cornish businesses, especially those in rural and coastal communities.
During his visit, I raised with the Minister about how £71 million of grant money, given to Cornwall Council to support local businesses, went to second-home owners, including those who don’t pay council tax or business rates on their properties. The minister gave me an undertaking that this would be raised by him within government.