T2. Mr Gaston asked the Minister of Finance to confirm whether, as he understands it, her Department has commissioned Ulster University to carry out work on who is best placed to set non-domestic rates going forward, with a view to having business rates simply set by the Executive, and to outline when she expects that work to be completed to allow councils to make the necessary preparations for the 2026-27 rate-setting process. (AQT 522/22-27)

The economic policy centre conducts research on behalf of a range of people. My Department had asked for some research to be done on the poundage across the North and the impact of the poundage across the different council areas. That is a slightly different issue from the one to which the Member refers.

It certainly is. It is where I am going with my question. Last year, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council set a business rate with a staggering increase of 11·86%. Is the move that I refer to in the Minister's Department a safeguard being brought in by the Department of Finance to protect businesses from that happening in the future?

There is research being looked at and that does not necessarily lead directly to a policy change being implemented. As I said in my previous answers on the rates consultation, proposals will go to the Executive on the short-, medium- and longer-term rates measures in coming weeks, and it will, of course, be for the Executive to decide.