Rebecca Evans MS, Minister for Finance and Local Government, said the intention is to legislate to include provisions for Wales in the UK Government’s ‘Rating (Coronavirus) and Directors Disqualification (Dissolved Companies) Bill (the UK Bill)’ which will operate to disregard Covid-19 appeals on the basis of MCC.
She said that such appeals would otherwise lead to significant amounts of taxpayer support going to businesses which would have been able to operate normally throughout the pandemic and to businesses which have already benefitted from the rates relief provided during the pandemic.
Andrew West, Business Rates Director at Cooke & Arkwright said, “This follows the UK Government’s announcement in March. The Rating Surveyors Association (RSA) estimated at that time that £5 billion was at stake with a record number of appeals lodged from businesses not covered by the existing Covid related business rate relief.
“The UK Government announced £1.5 billion funding to be distributed to sectors which have suffered the most economically. This fell far short of the true economic impact on businesses. The devolved administrations were to receive additional funding, with £90 million allocated to Wales.
“There have been at least 16,000 MCC appeals lodged in Wales which will now be void, and we have yet to hear how the Welsh Government will distribute this funding. This is a disappointing delay as businesses continue to suffer the adverse economic consequences of the pandemic.”