Section 70: Small business relief
160.Section 70 amends section 43 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 to enable the Secretary of State to make provision for a new small business rate relief scheme (made under that section) which does not require ratepayers to apply for small business rate relief in some or all cases. In those cases (if any) where an application is required, it will still be a criminal offence if the applicant knowingly or recklessly makes a false statement in that application