Part of Finance and Local Government – in the Scottish Parliament at on 14 January 2026.
Roz McCall
Conservative
Prior to the budget yesterday, five of Scotland’s largest business improvement districts, including the Stirling BID in my region, warned that England’s new permanent 10 per cent business rates discount will make Scotland
“a materially more expensive place”
to do business, putting at risk sectors that employ 457,000 Scots. The Minister may well laud the meagre measures that are in the budget to support business, but, as the Campaign for Real Ale stated,
“Transitional reliefs may sound good but if this Budget still means higher business rates Bills than pubs are paying now then this will be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for many hard-pressed licensees.”
On this Government’s watch, the current system is becoming an existential threat to our town centres, from all avenues. Where is the creative thinking? Will the Government agree to freeze non-domestic rates so that we can consider guidelines for the review and bring forward a joined-up approach to fair business taxation?
A proposal for new legislation that is debated by Parliament.
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