. >> sheila gilmore. >> last october, the chancellor announced a new policy called credit easing. can the prime minister tell us how many businesses have been helped? >> at the time of the autumn statement, the policy would be in place at the time for the budget and that's exactly what's going to happen. >> order! let's hear mr. peter alders. >> thank you, mr. speaker. high streets across the country including those in my constituency are facing tough trading conditions at present including the prospect of a 5.6% increase in business rates. can the prime minister outline what the government are doing to support traders to enable them to grow their businesses and create jobs? >> i think the honorable gentleman is right to raise this issue. there are real concerns about the hollowing out of some of our high streets and the number of empty properties. we've doubled small business rate relief scheme, helped an estimated 330,000 small firms. we're removing legal red tape requiring rate payers to nil in paper work to claim that relief which is something labour refused to do while in off