Question reference: S5W-28082
- Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 25 March 2020
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Current status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 17 April 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to extend business rates relief to producers, in light of the impact of COVID-19 on businesses.
Answer
Non-domestic rates is a tax on non-domestic properties, and producers will be located in many different sectors and may operate in many different types of property. Agricultural lands and heritages are exempt from rating.
The Scottish Government is delivering a package of support worth £2.2 billion to limit the impact of COVID-19 on the business community. As part of this we are providing a 1.6% rates relief for all non-domestic properties across Scotland, including for producers. In addition, we have established a 100% rates relief for the retail, hospitality, leisure sectors.
The Scottish Government has also created a fund to provide one-off grant support for small businesses experiencing hardship as a result of COVID-19. This will deliver one-off £10,000 grants to a range of businesses, including producers, in receipt of Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS) or Rural Relief on 17 March 2020; or properties eligible for SBBS and in receipt of either Nursery Relief, Business Growth Accelerator, Fresh Start or Disabled Relief on 17 March 2020. One-off grants of £25,000 are available to eligible businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors for those with a rateable value between £18,001 and £51,000. More information is available at http://www.mygov.scot/non-domestic-rates-coronavirus/ .
The Scottish Government will monitor the situation on an ongoing basis, and we will continue to work with the UK Government to consider where further support may be required.