{"links":{"self":"https://preview.epetitions.website/archived/petitions/26524.json"},"data":{"type":"archived-petition","id":26524,"parliament":{"period":"2010-2015","government":"Conservative – Liberal Democrat coalition","dissolution_at":"2015-03-30T23:59:59.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Define a 'Small Business' so benifits can be claimed.","background":null,"additional_details":"The Goverment need to define exactly what in law is a 'small business'.\r\nCurrently a business that has more than 1 property must pay full business rates just for trying to expand, even if turn over is say 20,000 pa.\r\nAt present no lawful definition of 'small business' is available in the UK.!\r\nA business turning over 5 million a year, clearly not a small business can actually claim 'small business relief' on business rates, just because they have one small outlet!, yet the businesses that really need the relief can not obtain it!!\r\nIt is called 'SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF' so let small businesses have it!!\r\nPresently by making 'small firms' as currently 'defined' by goverment pay full rates for having more than 1 outlet, they are being classified as 'medium to large'.\r\nTHIS NEEDS TO STOP! ACT NOW. one reason high street shops sit empty..BUSINESS RATES...small businesses can not afford to expand.","committee_note":null,"state":"closed","signature_count":4,"created_at":"2011-12-30T15:41:15.000Z","updated_at":"2020-02-16T19:27:46.480Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2012-01-03T09:10:27.000Z","closed_at":"2012-07-03T08:10:27.000Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2011-12-30T15:41:15.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":null,"government_response_at":null,"debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_at":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"rejection":null,"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[],"topics":[],"signatures_by_country":[],"signatures_by_constituency":[],"signatures_by_region":[],"other_parliamentary_business":[]}}}