NDM8420 Welsh Conservatives Debate - Small businesses

NDM8420 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that Small Business Saturday will take place on 2 December 2023.

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

3. Welcomes the Chancellor of the Exchequer's cuts to national insurance contributions, which will benefit the self-employed from April 2024.

4. Encourages communities to shop locally to support small businesses to grow and thrive.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) use all available levers it has to better support small businesses in Wales; and

b) continue to support small businesses through changes in procurement policy across the public sector.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete point 3 and replace with:

Regrets the economic mismanagement of successive Chancellors in recent years which has caused preventable harm to small businesses who face higher energy and mortgage costs than many comparative economies.

If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be de-selected.

Amendment 2 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Delete point 3 and replace with:

Regrets that the proposed cut to National Insurance will do little to alleviate the impact of fiscal drag on Welsh workers in the small business sector.

Further regrets that the Office of Budget Responsibility has downgraded its growth forecasts for the next two years, which will inhibit the prosperity of our SME sector.

Amendment 3 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete point 5 and replace with:

Welcomes:

a) the support provided to small businesses and entrepreneurs by the Welsh Government via services and initiatives such as Business Wales, the Development Bank of Wales and the Barriers to Start Up Grant; and

b) the Welsh Government’s approach to the everyday economy and the progress made in helping more small businesses win more contracts across Welsh public services.