5. The Non-Domestic Rating (Multiplier) (Wales) Order 2018

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:02 pm on 16 January 2018.

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Photo of Nick Ramsay Nick Ramsay Conservative 5:02, 16 January 2018

I wasn’t going to speak in this debate, because, as the Cabinet Secretary knows, the Welsh Conservatives will be supporting this instrument. However, I’ve been inspired to do so by the comments made by Adam Price. Whilst I do have a measure of sympathy for the comments that you’ve just made, Adam, in terms of your long-standing commitment to change the whole business rates system in Wales and a desire to do something different here, I do feel that we are where we are in terms of the current system, and if, as I understand it correctly, we are talking about following the model across the border and moving from retail price index to CPI in the same way as is happening there, then I cannot see how—. If you avoid doing that, you’re going to inevitably cause a disadvantage for businesses here. Just because you feel they may be at a disadvantage at the moment, Adam Price, it doesn’t therefore mean that they wouldn’t be at a greater disadvantage until the system was changed. So, on that basis, Cabinet Secretary, you have the support of the Welsh Conservatives in this. But I would at the same time urge you to look further at greater measures—