Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government recognises that many of those who want to work – including those claiming Jobseekers Allowance as well as those receiving Employment Support Allowance - suffer from long lasting health conditions. To be able to enter and sustain work, they need support to help them manage their conditions, alongside any necessary adjustments to the workplace.

We are exploring how this type of service could be part of devolved employment support.

In the longer term, Scottish ministers have an ambition for greater integration of employability support with other services such as health and skills.

The Scottish Government recognises the benefits of the Supported Employment Framework in enabling disabled people enter paid employment. Since launching A Working Life for All Disabled People: the Scottish Framework for Supported Employment (http://www.gov.scot/resource/doc/303584/0095164.pdf) in February 2010 we have taken a range of action to promote its use across Scotland.

For new devolved services, we are considering how Supported Employment approaches might be incorporated in the new model to widen access and improve the number of sustained job outcomes for disabled people that are achieved.

Yes. From April 2017, Scottish Government’s transitional employability services will have clear levels of the service to be provided for each customer. These will be detailed within the statement of requirement documents that will be issued within the tender documentation for the transitional services.

The Scottish Government is currently developing the service requirements for 2018 onward, and anticipate them also having defined minimum service standards.

Audited and projected estimated figures of the cost of the small business bonus scheme from 2008-09 to 2016-17 are shown in the following table. Estimates for future years are subject to final decisions and the impact of the 2017 revaluation and cannot be accurately provided.

Small Business Bonus - Costs and Forecasts - 2008-09 to 2020-21

1. Figures to 2014-15 are final Audited amounts

2. Figure for 2015-16 is a Mid-Year Estimate and subject to change

3. Figure for 2016-17 is Provisional Contributable amount and subject to change

The small business bonus scheme provides a competitive advantage for Scottish businesses worth up to £3,227 in 2016-17 compared to English competitors trading from equivalent premises.

Further to this, the government have made a commitment in the latest manifesto to extend the small business bonus scheme, so 100,000 of our small businesses will be removed from business rates completely.

The remit of the business rates review group is to explore ideas and options to improve the business rates system in Scotland to better support business growth that consider how the system can respond to wider economic conditions and changing marketplaces; support long-term growth and investment; are based on overall revenue neutrality and on maintaining the overall level of funding for local government.

Ken Barclay, formerly Chair RBS Scotland has been appointed as Chair of the group and additional members, drawn from a range of backgrounds and expertise will be announced shortly.

The group will take a wide ranging look at the whole business rates system in Scotland, reporting by July 2017.

We will formally seek to consult local authorities on devolving a share of income tax to councils in due course and will engage with HMRC as appropriate to support this process.

The Scottish Government does not have such plans. Revaluation of properties for council tax purposes would potentially impose major changes to individuals’ council tax liabilities.