15th Report - Small businesses and productivity

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government welcomes the Committee's report and sets out its responses to each recommendation, citing existing and new measures, with some matters still under consideration or review.

• On late payment, the government "agrees that we need to tackle the scourge of late payment". It will give careful consideration to the call for evidence responses and "intends to publish a response in due course".
• On online support, it will "explore options to improve our online hosting of support" for SMEs, LEPs and Growth Hubs, using evidence gathered from SMEs and business bodies.
• On post-Brexit local business support, it "intends to consult widely" on the design of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with final decisions following the consultation and the 2019 Spending Review.
• On construction retentions, the government is "reviewing the practice of cash retentions" and says its "work on policy options for retentions continues". On wider supply chain payment proposals it "notes" the recommendation, noting that from September 2019 failure to demonstrate prompt payment could prevent firms winning government contracts.

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