Welsh Conservatives have called on the Labour administration in Cardiff to follow the UK Government’s lead and extend business rates relief to other high-street industry sectors.
The UK Treasury has announced that local authorities in England will be fully compensated as part of a business rates holiday introduced from April 1.
The extension now includes estate agents, lettings agencies, and bingo halls that have closed as a result of measures to contain Covid-19 (Coronavirus). They will be now be exempted from business rates in 2020-21.
Russell George AM, the Shadow Minister for Business and the Economy, said:
“The measures that these businesses in England will now benefit from must be replicated in Wales.
“The effects of Coronavirus do not stop at the bridges connecting England and Wales, and it’s incumbent on the Welsh Labour administration to match the relief our neighbours will enjoy.
“The Chancellor of the Exchequer had releases hundreds of billions of pounds to mitigate the effects to business of this Coronavirus outbreak, and by and large, we Welsh Conservatives have agreed with the approaches taken.
“However, the Welsh Government must step up and follow suit. Only this way – when this crisis is over –will our businesses be in a strong position to recover, helping the economy and all people in Wales.”