Question reference: S6W-25590
- Date lodged: 16 February 2024
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Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 1 March 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent joint letter from 16 business representative organisations expressing that they were "dismayed" at the 2024-25 Budget decision to consider the introduction of a non-business rates public health supplement on grocery retailers and what the proposals might mean for wider devolved tax policy in relation to commerce.
Answer
The announcement in the Scottish Budget 2024-25 signalled the Scottish Government’s intent to explore the reintroduction of a Public Health Supplement for large retailers in advance of the next Budget.
In line with the New Deal for Business the Scottish Government is committed to engaging early retail representatives and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that any impact of any proposals on business is fully understood. Exploratory discussions with business organisations have already started and will continue alongside engagement with other relevant stakeholders.