Amendment 1—Jane Hutt

Delete points 3 and 4 and replace with:

Reaffirms the independence of the Valuation Office Agency following the financial devolution of non-domestic rates to Wales.

Notes the revaluation by the Valuation Office Agency is not designed to raise additional revenue and that while some rateable values have increased, overall they have fallen.

Notes the Welsh Government’s:

a) decision to extend the Small Business Rates Relief scheme for 2017-18, providing a tax cut for 70,000 small businesses in Wales

b) decision to make the Small Business Rates Relief scheme permanent from 2018 providing small businesses with certainty that this tax cut will continue;

c) commitment to review the Small Business Rate Relief scheme to make it simpler and fairer for businesses in Wales; and

d) decision to introduce a £10m transitional relief scheme in April 2017 to provide additional help for small businesses receiving SBRR who have been affected by revaluation.