Written Question·Treasury·UIN 84135

Small Businesses: Finance

Tabled: 22 October 2025
Answered: 28 October 2025
Named Day

Question

Gareth Thomas

Labour (Co-op)Harrow West

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if her Department will bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that SMEs are referred to the (a) most appropriate and (b) best value funding option under the Bank Referral Scheme.

Answer

Lucy Rigby
The Bank Referral Scheme is a legislative initiative that requires major lenders (designated banks) to refer SME customers that they reject for finance, with the SME’s permission, to designated finance platforms that can connect the SME with alternative f...

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