Other parts of the UK have already announced an extension to the business rates holiday for a further 12 months for the retail, hospitality, leisure and aviation sectors.
And given the likelihood of continued restrictions on these sectors into the spring, Matt Smith and the Welsh Conservatives want Labour ministers to use the £650 million of extra coronavirus support announced by the UK Government for Wales last week, to help support Welsh firms and save jobs.
Commenting, Matt Smith Senedd Candidate for the Vale of Glamorgan said:
“After what has been a tough year, the last thing businesses in the Vale of Glamorgan need at the start of the recovery is a huge hike in their operating costs.
“That's why I have been calling for the Welsh Labour Government to use the extra £665m in funding it has just received from the UK Government to hold off businesses rates for as many businesses as possible - whilst our highstreets and local businesses across the Vale of Glamorgan can recover.
“Extending the holiday would help to protect jobs, support local highstreets, and offer a lifeline to struggling businesses.”
“Even the Federation of Small Businesses had said they’d like to see the Welsh Government commit to a business rate holiday.”
“Labour ministers have no excuses. The money is there sitting in Cardiff Bay coffers and they just need to some show leadership and allocate it to hard-pressed businesses so we can save Welsh jobs.”
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