Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd – in the Senedd at 1:40 pm on 8 January 2020.

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Photo of Darren Millar Darren Millar Conservative 1:40, 8 January 2020

Well, of course, we welcome any business rate relief, but the fact of the matter is that, in spite of that relief, which you are extending, we've still got the most punitive business rates regime in the whole of the United Kingdom. And, of course, in addition to having the highest business rates in Great Britain, we also have very high land transaction tax for non-commercial properties, and they will continue to be higher than in either Scotland or England for the foreseeable future. Why is it that you didn't take the opportunity to have a look at reducing those taxes in order to promote investment and to promote business as the wealth creators in Wales in your budget, and will you reconsider that position before bringing the final budget to this Chamber later in the year?