Will the Minister reconsider the decision not to replicate the level of business rates relief provided to hospitality businesses in England?
The Welsh Government will not be reversing its decision to provide 40% rate relief for retail hospitality and leisure businesses. Our funding falls far short of what Wales needs, and this is one of the very difficult decisions we have had to make to refocus funding towards core, frontline public services. The Draft Budget for 2024-25 has been developed in the context of the toughest financial situation we have faced since devolution and in the context of a settlement which is not sufficient to respond to all the pressures our budget, Welsh public services, businesses and people are facing.
Despite this challenging context, we are providing a package of additional support for non-domestic rates worth £134m next year. This is in addition to our permanent relief schemes worth £250m annually and the considerable additional support we have provided to businesses and other ratepayers over recent years. I set out full details in my written statement on this matter, which is available at the following link: https://www.gov.wales/written-statement-non-domestic-rates-support-2024-25.