7. 3. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:06 pm on 1 November 2016.

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Photo of Jane Hutt Jane Hutt Labour 4:06, 1 November 2016

Thank you, Andrew R.T. Davies, for your questions. I was also pleased to meet with businesses and traders in Cowbridge on Saturday. Indeed, it was an opportunity to talk to them about their very different needs. Some of them also talked to me about some of the other sources of help, for example, such as ReAct, that are supporting businesses. So, I think it’s important, as you say, that we look at all means to support businesses in the high street. But in terms of your particular question, of course, in terms of revaluation, it’s not under our control itself. It will affect many businesses’ eligibility. Our £10 million transitional relief scheme, which you do refer to—available from next April, on 1 April, when that revaluation comes into effect—will be fully funded by the Welsh Government. In fact, that’s different from the scheme in England, which simply takes money from one business to give to another. Many of those small businesses, such as the ones we met in Cowbridge, will directly benefit from this support, but also Business Wales and the Cabinet Secretary’s officials are very willing to help, support and discuss these issues further. I think it’s also important to put on the record that these draft valuations are published six months in advance. That does allow ratepayers to check their property and valuation details, and if ratepayers think that their valuations are incorrect, then, of course, they must notify the Valuation Office Agency as soon as possible.

On your second point, of course we will be anticipating, I’m sure, next Tuesday, celebrating Welsh wins in our great capital city. In terms of the visitors who have been drawn into the city, of course these events have been managed very well in the past. It is a matter of everyone working together. Of course, the Cabinet Secretary will be aware of the arrangements for the local authority, for the police and for all those agencies that work together to ensure that this can be a great weekend for Wales.

I’m not aware of the issues you raised in terms of the expansion possibilities at Cardiff Airport, but I’m sure that the Cabinet Secretary will want to clarify those points.

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