AQW 39178/11-15

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 21/11/2014
Answered On Date: 03/12/2014
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel, following Rate Revaluation from April 2015, what mechanisms are in place to ensure that businesses currently eligible for small business rate relief are awarded.

Answer:

The Small Business Rate Relief Scheme was recently evaluated by the Northern Ireland Centre for Economic Policy and I am currently considering their report and its findings.

However, you should note that in the draft Budget statement I announced my intention that the Small Business Rate Relief Scheme should continue for 2015/16 rating year.

While I intend for the eligibility criteria to remain the same next year it is likely that as a natural result of the revaluation exercise some businesses will see relief removed or reduced level of relief, whereas others will receive relief for the first time or will see an increase in the level of their relief.