Business Rates: Is your Council publicising the 50% relief for small firms

I wrote a piece for the Daily Mail's website this morning about Business Rates which the Government are putting up by 5%.

One of the problems is that most small firms don't claim the 50% business rate relief they are entitled to - either because of the red tape involved or because they are unaware of it. The Tory MP Peter Luff is bringing in a private member's bill that would make it paid automatically.

But also what are Councils doing to raise awareness of this 50% relief - which can be worth up to £1,200? It is Councils that collect the Business rates on behalf of the Government. "Some local authorities don't publicise the rate relief many small firms are entitled to," says the Federation of Small Businesses.