Rishi Sunak set aside a £1.6billion fund for businesses (Image: PARLIAMENT.TV) In November Chancellor Rishi Sunak set aside £1.6billion in funds for councils to hand out to businesses struggling because of the pandemic. But freedom of information requests sent by the Events Industry Alliance (EIA) indicates just 13 percent of the money had been handed out. The figures suggest councils are still sitting on around £1.4 billion, the EIA found. Deputy Leader of Bury Conservatives Paul Cropper said: "Businesses and our communities are struggling due to this pandemic. Coronavirus in numbers latest (Image: EXPRESS) Trending "I believe the council should focus on supporting the very people who elect them not outside consultants.