To ask the Minister of Finance to outline the rationale for excluding Allied Health Professional businesses in Independent Practice from full non-domestic rates relief for 2020/21.

As the Member is aware because of Covid-19 I took the decision to support all businesses here with a 4-month rates holiday from 1 April. The Executive then decided to target rate relief from 1 August to the sectors identified as having the greatest need, supporting in the region of 30,000 businesses. That identification and targeting did not include the health professional businesses in independent practice. The approach not to include this sector is consistent with that adopted in separate business rate relief schemes in England, Scotland and Wales.