Does the Welsh Government have any plans to remove community pharmacies that now offer prescribing services from paying business rates, bringing these business in line with GP surgeries?
Public services, including GP surgeries and the NHS more generally, pay non-domestic rates. There are no current plans to alter the treatment of community pharmacies that offer prescribing services. Pharmacies, if they meet the specified criteria, are eligible for our existing relief schemes including Small Business Rates Relief and Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Rates Relief (RLHRR). Our RLHRR scheme is providing eligible ratepayers with 75% relief from their rates bills for the duration of 2023-24, subject to a cap of £110,000 per business across Wales.