To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel for an update on the review of non-domestic rates.

The Review of the Non-Domestic Rating System consultation exercise officially closed on 25 January. The Department did however allow respondents until the end of January, with the final response accepted on the 5 February. The Department received 113 responses from organisations and individual ratepayers which represents a good outcome in terms of level of engagement.

Any significant reforms emerging from this review will eventually need new primary legislation. Therefore, as the current Assembly mandate will end in March, it will be for the next Executive to take this forward.

A consultation report has been drafted and earlier this month it was independently validated by the Ulster University Economic Policy Centre. It will be published shortly.

The DFP Committee has been briefed already on the main review findings and further briefing will take place over the coming months as this mandate draws to a close and the newly elected administration is established. The Committee’s views will be taken into account before options are formally presented to the new Executive Ministers for decision.

Any changes that are radical or contentious will need further research, impact assessment work and additional consultation before being presented for decision.