Commenting on the announcement that the Assembly Government will not be following the UK Government’s lead in writing off the debts of small businesses which were given substantial backdated business rate bills, Jonathan Morgan AM, Shadow Minister for Local Government, said:
“This decision is grossly unfair to the Welsh businesses, which were burdened with large business rate bills dating back to April 2005 and expected to pay up at short notice.
“Businesses in England are having their debts written off and the UK Government has provided the Assembly Government with sufficient funding to ensure that Welsh firms are not unfairly penalised.
“Small businesses play a vital role in the Welsh economy and it is regrettable that they are not receiving the support they need from the Labour-led Assembly Government.
“Welsh Conservatives would abolish business rates for the majority of small businesses to help them expand and create new jobs.”
