1. I draw members’ attention to my register of interests, which shows that I own a hospitality business.

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support hotel businesses. (S5O-00509)

A range of business support is available directly to hotels and to other tourism businesses throughout Scotland. The business gateway service offers a first point of contact for all public sector business support for pre-start, early stage and established businesses.

In the tourism sector, VisitScotland provides a global marketing platform, together with opportunities for engagement through business development missions and attendance at trade fairs. As well as giving free market intelligence and advice, VisitScotland offers support to individual businesses through its quality assurance schemes and, where appropriate, hotels may be assisted through direct enterprise agency support through one-to-one account management. In addition, skills support is available through the recently launched Scottish tourism skills investment plan.

Draft revaluations released on 6 December by the Scottish Assessors Association indicate that rateable values for hotels will increase by between 10 and 117 per cent, with initial analysis suggesting an average increase of 48 per cent. That will have a devastating effect on hotel businesses across Scotland, which have to pay eye-watering rates. They are labour-intensive businesses with high fixed overheads that operate on low margins and have highly price-sensitive customers. Hotels are already competing with Airbnb on unequal terms and they have seen cost pressure from wage increases and auto-enrolment. Is it the intention of the Scottish Government to make Scottish hotel businesses unsustainable and uncompetitive?

The member will be aware that the rates assessment is conducted through independent assessment, and it is very important that it is independent assessment. The member will also be aware that we announced as part of the budget that the current poundage of 48.4p will be reduced to 46.6p. In those areas where the Scottish Government has control, we are therefore making efforts to ensure that we reduce the poundage burden. Of course, if the Conservative Party and its members vote against the budget, they will be voting against that reduction from 48.4p to 46.6p.

Rachael Hamilton, a hotel owner, has just asked a question about Scottish Government support for the hotel industry. That is the 24th time since May that the Tories have asked explicitly self-serving parliamentary questions to advance their own business interests. Does the Cabinet secretary agree that that is a completely inappropriate use of parliamentary time and resources?

Members:

Hear, hear.

I am sorry, but that is not a question for the Cabinet secretary.