NDM8469 Welsh Conservatives Debate - Business rates relied

NDM8469 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1.  Regrets that the Welsh Government is slashing business rates relief from 75 per cent to 40 per cent for the retail, hospitality and leisure sector in the 2024-2025 draft budget.

2.  Calls on the Welsh Government to reinstate business rates relief to 75 per cent for the retail, hospitality and leisure sector to support businesses and protect jobs.

Supporters

Joel James (South Wales Central)

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Welcomes that, despite its budget being worth £1.3 billion less in real terms than when it was set in 2021, the Welsh Government’s 2024-25 Draft Budget:

a) provides a package of support for non-domestic rates worth £384 million;

b) limits inflationary growth in the non-domestic rates multiplier to 5 per cent; and

c) provides a fifth successive year of non-domestic rates relief for retail, leisure and hospitality businesses, building on the almost £1 billion of support provided since 2020-21.

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

Amendment 2 Luke Fletcher (South Wales West)

Add as new point after point 1 and renumber accordingly:

Further regrets the current UK Treasury funding settlement which takes no account of Wales's needs. 

Amendment 3 Luke Fletcher (South Wales West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to move away from non-domestic rates, publish a timescale for their work, and ensure a roadmap to transition out of non-domestic rates is provided as well as options for a new system.