Non-domestic rates

24  March 2022

Dear

ATISN 16180 – Non-Domestic Rates for Self-Catering Properties

Thank you for your request which I received on 17 March. You asked for:

1.  The steps taken by the Welsh Government to determine the impact of the Draft Non-Domestic Rating (Definition of Domestic Property) (Wales) on the following:

                 •    Women employed in self-catering sector
                 •    Age-groups of those women
                 •    Are those women retired or of working-age
                 •    Number of those women with caring responsibilities                  
                 •    Number of those men with caring responsibilities

2.   Has the Welsh Government completed an Equality Impact Assessment to consider the likely impact of the Draft Non-Domestic Rating (Definition of Domestic Property) (Wales) Order 2022 on different groups of people and that this legislation will not discriminate against anyone and that it will promote equality of opportunity?  Specifically, that it will not discriminate against the following groups:

               a.     Women
               b.    Women of retirement age
               c.    Women unpaid carers
               d.    Men unpaid carers

In response to both of your requests:

Views on the policy behind the plans to amend the criteria were invited as part of a 12-week consultation looking at local taxes for second homes and self-catering accommodation.  The Welsh Government has consulted on these proposals and has carefully considered the responses to that consultation and all relevant matters when reaching its decision, including relevant legal issues. The Welsh Government is currently carrying out a further technical consultation on the draft of the proposed Regulations. 

When the legislation is made, subject to any changes arising from the technical consultation which is open until 12 April, it will be accompanied by a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA). However, there is a lack of relevant data about the impact or potential impact on people with particular demographic characteristics, such as the ones detailed in your request. Part of the policy-making process includes the assessment of impacts on groups sharing a protected characteristic and no specific impacts, positive or negative, were identified as determined by the Equality Act 2010.  Officials are currently considering the latest evidence available to inform the RIA.

If you are dissatisfied with the Welsh Government’s handling of your request, you can ask for an internal review within 40 working days of the date of this response.  Requests for an internal review should be addressed to the Welsh Government’s Freedom of Information Officer at:

Information Rights Unit, 
Welsh Government, 
Cathays Park, 
Cardiff, 
CF10 3NQ
Email: Freedom.ofinformation@gov.wales

Please remember to quote the ATISN reference number above.   

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner.  The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: 

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire 
SK9 5AF. 

However, please note that the Commissioner will not normally investigate a complaint until it has been through our own internal review process.

Any information released under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or Environmental Information Regulations 2004 will be listed in the Welsh Government’s Disclosure Log (at https://gov.wales/about/open-government/freedom-of-information/responses/?lang=en).

Yours sincerely