Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Economy – in the Senedd at 2:07 pm on 23 March 2022.
So, business rates reform is a matter for the Minister for Finance and Local Government. When it comes to the rates relief system, of course, we've announced rates relief for a range of businesses and we'd encourage businesses to make sure that they take up their entitlement to the 50 per cent rates relief. Now, having had, essentially, no business rates in a range of those areas to then having any business rates return will be a challenge for some businesses, compounded, of course, by the cost-of-living crisis, which is something for both the customers of those businesses as well as the businesses themselves, which will have their own energy bills as well.
So, the retail vision that we're working on is actually even more important, I think, about what we can do together to make sure that we do have a thriving and positive future for retail, both large and small. And, of course, when it comes to the business of how we have effective town centres, it's partly about a sense of place and what people think makes the place they live in special, as well as where you might visit as well. That's why we're trialling something called NearMeNow to provide small businesses and high streets with greater digital marketing capability. Because actually, as well as physical footfall, we know that lots of those businesses didn't have a digital presence pre the pandemic, and it's something that can generate footfall if people can collect items from those businesses and then look at other purchases while they're there. We continue to work with not just the FSB, but others on what the future vision for retail will be, and it's definitely entwined with the work that the Deputy Minister is leading on climate change, but also my portfolio on how we do generate a greater return for thriving high streets and places.