A CALL for greater scrutiny over how business rates are set is to be made in the Scottish Parliament, writes Nan Spowart.
It comes as protests grow over the recent rate increases for many businesses in Scotland.
Some business owners are threatening to withhold in echoes of the poll tax protests where people refused to pay until it was abolished.
As a result of the controversy, Green MSP Andy Wightman is to this week move a motion to annul the Non-Domestic Rate (Scotland) Order 2017 (SSI 2017/8). He aims to prompt a debate at Holyrood’s Local Government Committee about the “lack of scrutiny” of non-domestic rates, which raise almost £3 billion a year for council services.
Wightman said he was concerned that in 17 years of devolution the rate of Scotland’s second highest-yielding tax has never been voted on by the full chamber and it has been 10 years since the rate was voted on by a committee.
He said that the Conservative Government removed non-domestic rate setting from councils in 1988, centralising it in the hands of ministers. This continued under devolution and “means that non-domestic tax rates are set by Scottish ministers with little scrutiny and no vote – unless an MSP forces one”.
The MSP for Lothian, added: “Local councils are being denied control over what should be part of their economic tool kit. It’s time to shed light on how and where business rates are decided.
“What is the point of having control over taxation if ministers just copy Tory policy in Westminster?”
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