Budget 2024 Businesses in Wales 2024-03-13
2024-03-13
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The UK spring Budget 2024 was introduced, and concerns arose over its effects on Wales.
What assessment has the government made of the potential impact of the spring Budget 2024 on businesses in Wales?
The UK Government are backing our small businesses by raising the VAT threshold, delivering tax reliefs for the creative industries and investing in high-growth industries such as advanced manufacturing. This is in stark contrast to the anti-business agenda of the Welsh Labour Government.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide a specific assessment or statistics regarding the budget impact on Welsh businesses
Blaming Welsh Labour
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
Pubs and restaurants in Wales are closing faster than elsewhere.
Sadly, pubs and restaurants are closing at a faster rate in Wales than in any other part of the UK. The measures in the Budget that the Secretary of State mentioned will bring some relief, but does he agree that what is pushing many businesses to close right now is Welsh Labour's slashing of business rates support?
My right hon. Friend is absolutely correct. The UK Government have made sure that pubs and other small hospitality businesses receive a 75% discount on their business rates, but the Welsh Labour Government has slashed this policy, meaning that pubs and small businesses pay thousands of pounds more under the Welsh Labour Government.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The Chancellor distributed funding to constituencies, excluding the Rhondda tunnel project.
May I return the Secretary of State to the issue of the Rhondda tunnel? The Chancellor doled out bits and pieces of money but did not allocate any for the Rhondda tunnel. So where should we now apply for money for the Rhondda tunnel?
There have been three rounds of levelling-up funding, with growth deals across every constituency in Wales. There are special projects being backed in areas such as Newport and an investment zone and a freeport in Port Talbot. Constituencies the length and breadth of Wales have benefited from many projects this Government has put forward.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not specify funding for Rhondda tunnel
Talking About General Benefits
Response accuracy
Q4
Direct Answer
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Context
English businesses receive business rate relief at a higher percentage than Welsh businesses.
My right hon. Friend is well aware that the Chancellor has extended business rate relief here in England, but of course the Welsh Government are refusing to pass this on to small businesses. Does he not think it completely unfair?
My right hon. Friend is absolutely correct. It is extraordinary that the Welsh Labour Government, receiving funding to support small businesses in Wales, are failing to pass it on. As a result, the average pub in Wales will pay more than £2,000 more in business rates than a pub in England.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
Monetary policies impact interest rates for Welsh businesses and households.
Has the Secretary of State met the Governor of the Bank of England recently? If not, will he invite him to Wales to see the impact of his policies on the Welsh economy?
The hon. Gentleman will surely be aware that the Bank of England sets interest rates independently, as a result of a policy brought in by the former Labour Government. As a result of policies being pursued by this UK Government in conjunction with the Bank of England, inflation has dropped drastically from over 11% to 4%, and I would like to think that interest rates will soon follow.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address meeting or invite Governor to Wales
Talking About Monetary Policy
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
Retailers face daily incidents of theft and violence.
The Budget will do nothing to deliver a better future for retailers and their customers. The British Retail Consortium members face 45,000 incidents of theft and 1,300 incidents of violence and abuse every day. Why are the Government failing to tackle shoplifting?
The UK Government have provided for an extra 20,000 police officers across the whole United Kingdom. We have repeatedly brought forward legislation to increase prison sentences and punishments for offenders, but that legislation has often been voted against by members of her political party.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address tackling shoplifting directly
Blaming Opposition
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
The Government pledged £1 billion to electrify the north Wales main line, but details are unclear.
This Government pledged £1 billion to electrify the north Wales main line. How can the Secretary of State explain that phase 1 goes no further than Llandudno?
The UK Government have already shown a commitment to transport in Wales, spending £390 million on improved rail infrastructure over the last control period. In addition, there has been the south Wales metro, part of a joint-funded growth deal. The Prime Minister was clear about our commitment to the electrification of the north Wales rail line.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not explain why phase 1 does not go further than Llandudno
Talking About General Transport Commitments
Response accuracy
Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
The question addresses concerns about the impact of holiday homes on communities in Wales, specifically mentioning opposition to an overnight tourism tax proposed by the Welsh Labour Government.
The Tory leader in the Senedd opposes moves to tackle the effects of excessive numbers of holiday homes in our communities. He goes on about 'anti-tourism and anti-English policies being imposed on the Welsh tourism industry'. Now that the Tory Westminster Government are abolishing tax breaks for holiday lets, would the Secretary of State claim that his Chancellor is anti-tourism?
I would not. My friend in the Senedd has spoken out repeatedly about the Welsh Labour Government's plans for an overnight tourism tax, which will have a detrimental impact on tourism businesses across Wales. The hon. Lady's party is in partnership with the Welsh Labour Government, and if she really wants to support the Welsh tourism industry, I suggest she tells it that her Members will vote against Welsh Labour's Budget, to prevent that tax from coming in.
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Assessment & feedback
The Secretary of State did not address whether abolishing tax breaks for holiday lets is anti-tourism but instead focused on the opposition's stance on an overnight tourism tax proposed by the Welsh Labour Government.
Changing Subject To Another Policy
Response accuracy