To ask the Minister of Finance when his Department will publish the findings of the Business Rates Review Consultation, which closed on 11 November 2019.

In early 2020, my Department had to move quickly to address the immediate impact of the pandemic through both emergency measures in the rating system and the delivery of business support grants. I have already taken forward several policy measures informed by the 2019 Review. These include the reduction of the non-domestic regional rate by 18%, increased flexibility for Councils in rate setting and the reintroduction of an enhanced Back in Business initiative to assist the occupation of long term vacant retail space. The publication of the consultation report was delayed because these matters took precedence, but my Department is now preparing the report for publication in the near future.