Childcare providers may gain extended rate relief

The Welsh Assembly Government is consulting on extending the small business rate relief scheme, which began in April 2007. New proposals would mean that private childminders and daycare providers with a rateable premise value of less than £12,000 see a reduction of between £582 and £2,800 in 2008/09. The previous rateable premise value for childcare businesses was set at £2,000. Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association, said, 'We are pleased to see that the Welsh Assembly Government has recognised there is a need for increased business rate relief...