Small business representatives have welcomed Assembly support for a Bill that will introduce a rates relief scheme for small firms.

The second stage debate on the Rates (Amendment) Bill was completed late on Tuesday night, Finance Minister Sammy Wilson said.

“This Bill represents the final outworking of the Executive’s review of the domestic rating system, as well as taking forward a small business rate relief scheme, which forms a key part of the Executive’s package of measures in response to the continuing economic downturn,” Mr Wilson said.

“The small business rate relief scheme will provide help of between £8m and £9m to more than 16,000 of our smaller businesses. I know that this has been eagerly awaited by bodies such as the Federation of Small Business and I am determined to get this in place in time for billing in April next year.”

Policy Chair of the Northern Ireland Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), Wilfred Mitchell, welcomed the Scheme.

He said: “As the only part of the UK not to enjoy the benefits of such a scheme, the FSB believes its introduction is long overdue in Northern Ireland.

“The FSB has long championed the virtues of the scheme and we are encouraged by Mr Wilson’s commitment to its introduction by April 2010.

“We believe the introduction of the scheme will send a clear message of the Executive’s recognition of the importance of the small business sector and the vital role it will play in helping to rejuvenate the economy.”

Mr Wilson also said yesterday that plans to levy rates on empty houses in Northern Ireland due to be introduced in April had been postponed until 2011.

More time has been allowed to review values and take into account localised effects of the recession.

Mr Wilson said: “The commercial property market has suffered badly this year which makes it a difficult time to undertake a general rates revaluation; not simply for the many business ratepayers who are uncertain what their rate bills will be next year but also for local councils who badly need stability within the rate base, particularly as we move into implementation of the Review of Public Administration.”

sross@belfasttelegraph.co.uk