AQW 53383/11-16

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 25/01/2016
Answered On Date: 12/02/2016
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail the (i) number; and (ii) percentage of businesses in the Causeway Coast and Glens area that are currently eligible for small business rate relief; and whether small business rate relief is being considered within the non-domestic rates review.

Answer:

Small Business Rate Relief is automatically awarded to all eligible businesses. At 31st December 2015, there were (i) 2,169 non-domestic properties in the Causeway Coast and Glens area currently benefitting from Small Business Rate Relief, representing (ii) 37.4% of all non-domestic properties in the Causeway Coast and Glens area.

The Executive's Budget for 2017/18 noted that the SBRR Scheme will continue to operate for an additional year while research is undertaken on potential alternative uses of funding in light of the evaluation work undertaken by the Ulster University Centre for Economic Policy.

The non-domestic review consultation paper highlights at Page 17 that "proposals to replace the scheme will be taken forward as part of a separate consultation and will include input from the Department of Finance and Personnel, Department for Social Development as well as the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Investment".