T4. Mr Clarke asked the Minister of Finance whether she has any plans to bring derelict buildings and properties back into good use, given that she will be aware that many of our towns and villages are suffering due to derelict buildings, which affect neighbouring businesses. (AQT 154/22-27)

One of the initiatives that we have taken is the back in business scheme, which aims to bring empty properties that were previously for retail use back into use for businesses, and to give rate relief to businesses of 50% for up to two years. That initiative had been in place previously, and, through the high street task force work in the previous mandate, it was recommended that we should bring it back.

There is an important piece of work to do on how we get businesses into our towns and villages to use those spaces, and on how to have different uses for those spaces, such as for housing in town centres and recreation spaces. In respect of my Department and the rating system, there are some measures that could be looked at as part of a broader strategic look at the reform of rates.

I thank the Minister for her answer. Given that there are financial restrictions on many of the people who own the properties and that many of the properties will cost tens — maybe hundreds — of thousands of pounds to bring back, what I am trying to get from you, Minister, is whether you have plans to bring forward a meaningful financial package so that those business premises can be brought back into use.

Some of that will fall to me, in my remit, and some of it will fall to other Ministers, including the Communities Minister and the Economy Minister, through their responsibilities and their priorities for their Departments. I will consider any proposals that other Ministers bring forward on that.