James Evans has asked the Welsh Government how it intends supporting retail businesses, particularly those in the high street.

The Brecon and Radnorshire MS said at the Senedd that with the recent increase in national insurance contributions from 13.8 per cent to 15 per cent and the lowering of the threshold, many small high street businesses are facing difficult choices of letting people go or upping their prices, which pushes people out of the high street.

He asked Finance Secretary, Mark Drakeford: “Given these challenges and the pressure on businesses and the pressure they have with business rates, how does the Government intend to use the taxation policy it has to support businesses to make sure that we do not have job losses and that we can get people back onto our high streets to make sure that they thrive in the future?”

Mr Drakeford said the Government is providing a package of non-domestic rates support worth £335 million in 2025-26.

He told Mr Evans: “Almost half of all ratepayers pay nothing at all, and fewer than one-third pay the full amount. That is thanks to the support available in Wales.

“Eighty-five thousand such properties across Wales already get full or partial business rate relief.

“Last month, the Government launched a 12-week consultation to introduce differential non-domestic rate multipliers, and the proposal we put forward is one that will particularly concentrate additional help on high street retailers.

“I look forward to the responses to that consultation because if they are supported.

“Then we will be using, for the first time, a new power that is now available to the Senedd to set differential multipliers.”

Mr Drakeford said his conclusion, in consultation with his officials, was that the first use of those new powers should be to assist high street retailers - bricks-and-mortar retail shops - which in recent times have faced competition from online retailers in a way that you might not regard as an entirely level playing field.

After the session, Mr Evans said: “With the recent increase in national insurance contributions and continued business rate pressures, many small high street businesses are facing very difficult choices, either let people go or raise prices, both of which harm our local economies.

“I asked the Welsh Government to be clear on how it plans to use its taxation policy to support jobs and keep our town centres alive. Small businesses need more than warm words, they need action.

“We cannot afford to lose more high street shops. They are the backbone of our communities and vital to the future of our towns and villages.”