Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:35 pm on 15 February 2022.
Diolch, Llywydd. I'm grateful to the Welsh Conservatives spokesperson for confirming the Welsh Conservatives support of the regulations today. Of course, the spokesperson doesn't, in his contribution, mention the Welsh Government's permanent small business rates relief scheme, which, of course, supports tens of thousands of businesses across Wales with their rates, with many paying no rates whatsoever. And of course, businesses here in Wales are still benefitting in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors from paying no rates in this financial year, due to the decision that Welsh Government took to provide a full year's relief, as compared to lesser relief across the border in England. And, of course, colleagues will be familiar with the fact that businesses in those mentioned sectors will receive a 50 per cent rate relief in the next financial year, recognising the pressures that those businesses and those sectors have been under. But, again, I'm grateful for the Welsh Conservatives spokesperson's support for today's regulations.