The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has welcomed today’s vote by MSPs to reverse a series of potentially damaging changes to the Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Bill.
Alongside a broad range of other business groups, FSB last month expressed concern at the changes to the Bill at Stage 2 which would have localised business tax rates and abolished national reliefs, such as the Small Business Bonus Scheme.FSB’s Scottish Policy Chair, Andrew McRae, said:
“MSPs had a big call to make today. If they didn’t amend this legislation, we’d have seen bills going up and national reliefs axed. This was not the time to hit small businesses with new annual rates bills in excess of £7,000.
“Our MSPs are to be congratulated for recognising this threat and acting decisively to address it.
“All eyes are now on tomorrow’s final vote on the Bill as a whole. We urge all MSPs to back the Bill as amended and get what is, on the whole, a sensible and long overdue package of reforms onto the statute book.”
ENDS
Notes to editor
- The FSB’s most recent submission to the local government committee on this issue can be found online here: https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Local_Gov/FSB.pdf
- FSB, along with 26 other business groups, last month called on MSPs to oppose rates localisation: https://www.fsb.org.uk/resources-page/scottish-business-unites-to-save-uniform-business-rate.html
- Details regarding the business rates system can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/policies/local-government/non-domestic-rates/
- Details of the Small Business Bonus rates relief can be found here: https://www.mygov.scot/non-domestic-rates-relief/small-business-bonus-scheme/ The maximum saving from the relief is £7350
- As experts in business, FSB offers members a wide range of vital business services, including advice, financial expertise, support and a powerful voice in Government. More information is available at www.fsb.org.uk
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