Preseli Pembrokeshire Assembly Member Paul Davies has recently taken part in a panel discussion on business rates, alongside representatives of Pembrokeshire County Council and the Valuation Office Agency. The event, hosted by Pembrokeshire Tourism, was convened to discuss the impact of the recent rate revaluation on businesses in Pembrokeshire and ways in which the Welsh Government can help ease that burden.

Mr Davies said: “It was a pleasure to be involved in Pembrokeshire Tourism’s panel discussion, particularly to discuss such an important issue. The recent rate revaluation has been a real concern for some businesses and whilst the Welsh Government will be bringing forward some support, we still have no details about this package, making it very difficult for businesses to plan in the short and medium term. The feedback from this meeting has given me much more ammunition to press the Welsh Government on this important matter.”

He added, “In fact, I believe that the Welsh Government need to go one step further to ensure that businesses face full support with their business rates, by not just raising the rates relief bands but also splitting the multiplier, so that small businesses in Pembrokeshire and right across Wales are, at the very least, on a level playing field with small businesses in England.”