To ask the Minister of Finance, pursuant to AQW 14473/22-27 in relation to correspondence from the First Minister and deputy First Minister on 10 October 2024, to detail any actions she has taken in relation to the recommendations of the High Street Taskforce and determining a way forward.

My Department was responsible for the rating elements within the report and has undertaken a number of actions in response to the recommendations, including extending the Small Business Rate Relief scheme for 2024/25, a measure which now provides support to some 30,000 businesses here and the reinstatement of the Back in Business scheme to incentivise the use of long-term vacant retail space by helping new ventures across our councils in their vital first years in business.

The High Street Task Force was a cross-cutting initiative, however, and business rates formed just one aspect within a much wider set of recommendations across Government.