Rebecca Evans MS, Minister for Finance and Local Government
I am today announcing that the Welsh Government is taking measures to amend the arrangements for certain non-domestic rating appeals in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The changes affect appeals citing a Material Change of Circumstances (MCC)
as a result of market-wide economic changes arising from governmental measures and restrictions imposed in response to the pandemic.
We intend to legislate by seeking to include provisions for Wales in the UK Government’s Rating (Coronavirus) and Directors Disqualification (Dissolved Companies) Bill (the UK Bill) which will operate to disregard Covid-19 appeals on the basis of a MCC. Such appeals would otherwise lead to significant amounts of taxpayer support going to businesses which have been able to operate normally throughout the pandemic and to businesses which have already benefitted from the rates relief we have provided throughout 2020-21 and 2021‑22.
We also intend to introduce regulations in Wales which will have a similar effect to the provisions to be included in the UK Bill, and those regulations would apply until such time as the UK Bill becomes law.
The Welsh Government will consider how any additional consequential funding allocated to Wales as a result of similar changes made by the UK Government can be best targeted to support our communities and businesses in Wales as part of our budget and spending priorities.