1. Mr Harvey asked the Minister of Finance what assessment has been made of the impact of the back in business rate support scheme. (AQO 234/22-27)

When the back in business scheme was last in place, during 2022-23, 101 businesses, the majority of which were small, independent retailers, benefited from support in the form of a 50% rate reduction. That helped businesses to get started, supported jobs and got long-term vacant units back into use. Given the positive impact that the back in business scheme had, I am glad to advise that legislation will be made later this month to restore the scheme, and that will allow for debate at the Assembly. The Committee has cleared the relevant policy stage associated with the measure. Reinstating that popular scheme is more important now than ever before, as it will allow new businesses to emerge and will grow our tax base.

I thank the Minister for her answer. In the current climate, my supplementary question was going to be about whether the Minister has plans to reintroduce the scheme, so I will just say that it is good news to hear that that will happen later in the month. That will help small businesses.

I thank the Member for his support. It is an important scheme that provides for a 50% reduction in businesses' rates for up to two years if they move into premises that were previously used for retail purposes. The scheme has the ability to get some of the premises on our high streets back into use by businesses, giving those businesses space to get started up.

Will the Minister outline who is eligible for the back in business scheme?

As I said to Mr Harvey, businesses are eligible if they move into premises that were previously used for retail purposes and have been unoccupied for 12 months or more. The previous Finance Minister amended the scheme in April 2021, extending the duration of support from 12 months to 24 months, thus helping give businesses additional certainty. That extension will be retained when the scheme is reintroduced.