Oral QuestionWales Office

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the rise in employer National Insurance contributions on employment in Wales.

Tabled: 4 March 2025Answered: 12 March 2025

Asked by

Rebecca Smith

ConservativeSouth West Devon

Answering Minister

the Secretary of State for Wales

Answer from Hansard

The Secretary of State for Wales (Jo Stevens)

I am sure the whole House will wish to join me in sending our deepest sympathy to the family, friends and neighbours of Joanne Penney, who was callously murdered in Talbot Green on Sunday. It is a shocking and horrific crime. We have protected the smallest businesses and more than doubled the employment allowance to £10,500, meaning that over half of small and micro businesses will pay less or no national insurance contributions at all. In Wales, small and medium-sized companies account for 99.3% of total enterprises.