Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 10 December 2025.
Carol Mochan
Labour
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it will take in its budget to support high street retailers in the South Scotland region that are at risk of closing. (S6O-05271)
Ivan McKee
Scottish National Party
The 2026-27 Scottish budget will be published and presented to Parliament on 13 January 2026. Further details will be available at that stage.
Carol Mochan
Labour
Retailers are often the largest employers of young people in our communities, yet more high street shops in my region are closing, or choosing not to open, because of high business rates, and that trend is contributing to our growing youth unemployment. Our current rates put us at a disadvantage compared with other parts of the United Kingdom. What will the Scottish Government do to provide relief to get our local economies moving?
Ivan McKee
Scottish National Party
The Scottish Government is listening to all interested parties, industry sectors and others as we collect information, analyse the data that is required and make the decisions for the budget for 2026-27, which, as I indicated, will be presented to Parliament on 13 January next year.
Craig Hoy
Conservative
The Minister will be aware that, across South Scotland and beyond, reassessments of non-domestic rates Bills are causing very real concern to businesses, particularly in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors. One small pub in a rural community has been given a draft rateable value of £24,700, up from £9,474; last week, a restaurant in Edinburgh that faced a rates increase of 54 per cent announced its closure with immediate effect; and a bed-and-breakfast business that has been operating for 17 years faces a 116 per cent increase that could well put it out of business. Will the minister now urgently intervene and ensure that bills do not rise for businesses next year, otherwise it will be the last Christmas for many pubs, restaurants and shops?
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