Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:15 pm on 28 February 2023.
Thank you, Minister. We all know that SMEs are the beating heart of our Welsh economy. They provide vital employment and contribute to a sense of community and belonging. And while I'm pleased that that the multiplier has not risen, we cannot support the freeze, because it is clear that much more could have been done to support the business community. For example, as the explanatory memorandum highlighted in option 3, where it suggests an option to reduce the multiplier by 2 per cent, well, that would have brought us more in line with the rest of the UK. The fact is that businesses in both Scotland and England pay a lower rate of business rates than businesses do in Wales. Their multipliers are more generous, as are their small business relief schemes. It's clear that the cost of doing business is higher here in Wales than the rest of Great Britain, stunting business growth and increasing the pressures on business at a time when we should be looking to support them. So, much more could be done; whilst we welcome the freeze, it's not far—. We haven't done enough. Thank you.