Nick Ramsay MS – the Shadow Minister for Finance – today (July 1) – quizzed the Minister in Plenary over business rates in Wales, saying:
“Rebuilding the Welsh economy will require the next Welsh Government to utilise tax powers in innovative ways. The Welsh Conservatives have pledged to create a ‘Business Rate-Free Zones’, where all businesses would be free from paying business rates for up to three years, and to scrap business rates for all businesses with a rateable value of under £15,000 outside of these zones.”
Speaking later, after asking what consideration the Labour-led administration given to making business rates relief for up to £15,000 the “new norm”, he said:
“We’re hearing some of the right noises coming from the Labour-led Welsh Government, but I – and undoubtedly many businesspeople – was left lacking any feeling of reassurance from the Minister’s statements.
“The health emergency produced by the Covid pandemic has been grave, but the economic emergency we’re in will wreak a different, but equally devastating effect. The Minister must implement a structured plan with indicators to save the economy and livelihoods as Wales exits lockdown.”