- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 22 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether introduction of the small business rates relief scheme proposed by the Federation of Small Businesses would assist in achieving the Executive's target of creating 100,000 new small businesses by 2009.
Answer
The impact on new business starts and existing businesses would depend on the details of any small business rates relief scheme which may be introduced. By reducing costs a relief scheme may help encourage more individuals to start-up in business and improve the financial position of those existing firms which benefit. However, any proposal to reduce the liabilities of certain non-domestic ratepayers could reduce the overall non-domestic rate income collected.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to make a Ministerial Statement on a small business rates relief scheme.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-11050.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce a small business rates relief scheme on 1 April 2001 and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-11050.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, if it decides to introduce a small business rates relief scheme, such a decision will be announced by means of (a) a Ministerial Statement, (b) an answer to a parliamentary question or (c) a press release.
Answer
We are considering the position on rate relief for small businesses and will announce before Christmas what conclusions have been drawn and how we intend to proceed. Decisions on the most appropriate method of such an announcement will be made nearer the time.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has met the Inland Revenue to discuss the Federation of Small Businesses' proposal for a small business rates relief scheme and, if not, whether it will now initiate such a meeting.
Answer
We are considering the position on rate relief for small businesses and will announce before Christmas what conclusions have been drawn and how we intend to proceed. We have not met with the Inland Revenue to discuss rate relief for small businesses.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates since 8 December 1999 it has met with (a) the Federation of Small Businesses and (b) the Forum for Private Business to discuss a small business rates relief scheme.
Answer
The Executive meets on a regular basis with representatives from a wide range of business organisations as part of a partnership working group established to consider aspects of the revaluation of non-domestic rates and the rating system generally. The working group has met twice since December 1999. Specific meetings with representatives of the Federation of Small Businesses were held on 11 July and 3 October 2000 and with the Forum for Private Business on 7 July and 29 September 2000.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether business rates represent a greater burden to small businesses than to larger businesses.
Answer
It will depend on the particular business, but in general there is some evidence which suggests that non-domestic rates for small businesses represent a greater proportion of turnover than their counterparts in larger businesses.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Federation of Small Businesses' proposal for a small business rates relief scheme has been discussed at any meetings of the Joint Ministerial Committee and, if so, on what dates.
Answer
The Joint Ministerial Committee has not discussed this matter.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has informed non-domestic ratepayers or businesses, in information leaflets or by any other method, of the variation in the rate poundage between Scotland and England and between Scotland and Wales.
Answer
The Executive published a paper on 17 January explaining the calculations underlying the Scottish non-domestic rate poundage for 2000-01. This included an explanation of the reasons for the differences in rate poundage north and south of the Border.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether implementing a small business rates relief scheme would give rise to additional costs for local authorities and what the nature and level of any such additional costs would be.
Answer
The costs of administering any small business rates relief scheme will be taken into account in considering how best to proceed. We are considering the position on rate relief for small businesses and will announce before Christmas what conclusions have been drawn and how we intend to proceed.
