Welsh Assembly ‘must act' to save hospitality sector

UKHospitality has called on the Welsh Assembly to follow the UK government's lead in providing business support.

The trade body has written to finance minister Rebecca Evans asking her to replicate assistance for businesses by providing a devolved business rates holiday to match that offered to businesses in England.

Yesterday, the chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that the 12-month business rates holiday previously offered to businesses with a rateable value of £51,000 would be extended to all hospitality businesses.

UKHospitality executive director for Wales, David Chapman, said: "The UK government has now moved to protect businesses in England and, while the measures announced so far are not a complete solution at this time, they do offer valuable and immediate support. Crucially, it also shows that the government in Westminster is listening to UKH and its businesses and we want the National Assembly to follow suit and provide the same business rates guarantees to Welsh businesses.

"If it does not, the hospitality sector in Wales is in very real danger of suffering swift and fatal harm."

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