STOP THIS MADNESS - WILLIAMS

12.28.02pm GMT Mon 23rd Mar 2009

Roger Williams, MP for Brecon and Radnorshire and Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, used today's Welsh Oral Questions session to call on Paul Murphy MP, Secretary of State for Wales, to stop the 'madness' that is business rate increases in Wales.

Mr Williams said:

"Business Rates in Wales will increase by just under 5% this year regardless of whether the business in question is making a profit.

"The 4.9% is based on the RPI figure for September but the current RPI rate is just 0.1%.

"There seems to be no logic behind this decision and it is completely against all other Government initiatives to aid the economy by giving money back to those who need it, such as when VAT rates were cut.

"The response from the Secretary of State was totally unsatisfactory: empty property rate relief doesn't help businesses that are still occupying their property.

"I will be asking the Government in Westminster and the Assembly in Cardiff for figures on how much they expect these increased rates to generate in terms of revenue.

"Many businesses are already starting to feel the pinch of the current recession and it is vital that the Government intervene in order to stop this madness and give some hope to small businesses.

NOTES:

The exchange between Roger Williams MP and Paul Murphy MP can be found at: http://pubs1.tso.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmtoday/cmdebate/01.htm#hddr_10

Roger Williams MP will be leading a delegation of small businesses to the Welsh Office next week (Thursday 19th March at 10:30am) to discuss these issues in more detail with Wayne David MP, Minister of state at the Wales Office.