OTHER MEASURES

The government has announced the following measures.

• An extension to the temporary exemption from business rates for empty properties. For 2009/10 properties with a rateable value of up to £15,000 are exempt. The relief will be extended to 2010/11 for empty commercial properties with a rateable value of up to £18,000.
  
  
• An additional £500 million of lending available to small and medium-sized enterprises through a 12 month continuation of the Enterprise Finance Guarantee. This provides targeted support for viable businesses with less than £25 million turnover that have no or insufficient security.
  
  
• Creating a new Growth Capital Fund to support growing companies seeking to borrow amounts between £2 million and £10 million. Further details will be announced in 2010.
  
  
• Further investment in the Strategic Investment Fund and UK Innovation Investment Fund.