Statement

SMALL BUSINESS RATES RELIEF WILL BE OF GREAT BENEFIT TO NORTH DOWN FIRMS SAYS WEIR

Posted on: August 5, 2009

“I welcome the announcement of DUP Finance Minister, Sammy Wilson, that he intends to press ahead with the proposed Small Business Rates Relief Scheme, and legislate for it as soon as possible. This scheme will be of major benefits to a range of small firms in North Down, and will give practical support to around 16000 companies throughout Northern Ireland. In the last two years, the DUP have sought to help local firms by measures such as the freezing of the non domestic rates, halting any advance in the manufacturing rate, and this measure for a rates relief plan for small businesses. Small and medium size enterprises are the backbone of the local North Down economy, and it is vital that these firms are given proper support and help by the Government. 

We are in a global recession and we cannot shelter local businesses from the full impact of that worldwide economic downturn, but we can try and ameliorate the worst excesses by continuing to pursue a pro business and pro enterprise agenda. I welcome this move to assist local small businesses. This plan gained the support of representative bodies such as the Federation of Small Businesses and the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Association, as well as endorsement in the Executive. I believe that it is vital that politicians across the spectrum give tangible effect to their words by supporting a swift enactment of this proposal in the Assembly, so that small businesses in North Down, and throughout Northern Ireland, can benefit from this scheme in next year’s rates.”