National Assembly for Wales

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that Small Business Saturday will take place on 7 December 2024.

2. Recognises the vital contribution that small businesses make in creating jobs, supporting  communities and developing local economies across Wales.

3. Believes that the UK Labour Government has broken a manifesto commitment by raising national insurance contributions and notes that the British Retail Consortium and 79 prominent retail leaders have indicated that the increase will lead to higher prices, job losses, and damage investment.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) make urgent representations to the UK Government to reverse an increase in national insurance contributions; and

b) reinstate business rates relief to 75 per cent for the retail, hospitality and leisure sector to support small businesses and protect jobs.