Finance Minister Sammy Wilson has reaffirmed his commitment to press ahead with a small business rate relief scheme for Northern Ireland.

Following a meeting with the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA), the minister said the policy had been “fully endorsed” by the Executive and gained cross-party support, with businesses now pushing for its introduction at the earliest opportunity.

“I listened carefully today to the association and recent calls from the Federation of Small Businesses. Both organisations stressed the need to get the necessary legislation passed by the Assembly as a matter of urgency. I will take whatever steps are needed to ensure that the legislation is brought forward and passed as soon as possible,” said Mr Wilson.

The rates relief plan was announced in December and will assist 16,000 small businesses and sub-post offices. It will be based on net annual value criteria and will be awarded without the need for an application from eligible ratepayers. However, legislative procedures mean the earliest it can be introduced is April 1 next year.

The minister said that the support of the Assembly will be vital in order to deliver the scheme.

“The necessary enabling legislation has been drafted and when the Executive clears it, I will be looking to all parties in the Assembly to give this the green light and drive it through so that the scheme can be delivered in time for next year’s bills — delivering real help to many of our smaller businesses during this downturn.

“This is particularly important because the scheme cannot be introduced without the legislation in place. If there are any further delays and the Bill is delivered late, the scheme’s provisions cannot be backdated to the beginning of the financial year nor can it be introduced ‘in year’,” he said.

Glyn Roberts, chief executive of NIIRTA, said: “The introduction of a Small Business Rate Relief Scheme will be of considerable help to those small retailers and businesses who are struggling to pay their rates bills as the result of the downturn.

“Minister Wilson and his predecessor, Nigel Dodds, deserve considerable credit for bringing the scheme forward which will bring us into line with the rest of the UK.”