Essential local shops could be free from paying business rates if Scottish Liberal Democrat Leader Nicol Stephen MSP is elected First Minister in May. The proposals form part of a Three Point Plan announced today by the Liberal Democrat Leader to support essential local shops, reduce business rates in Scotland to below English levels, and support businesses in introducing micro-renewables such as mini wind turbines and solar panels.

Nicol Stephen MSPAnnouncing the Scottish Liberal Democrat’s Three Point Plan for business rates reform, Mr Stephen said:

“Today I am proposing a three point plan that will help support Scottish business through changes to the business rates system.

“Most importantly I want to deliver for small businesses which are the lifeblood of the Scottish economy. Over 95% of business in Scotland are small businesses.

“They are also the cornerstone of Scottish communities. The local corner shop, post office, butcher, baker and chemist were once a feature of every town and village across the country. But today they are battling to survive.

“If I am elected as Scotland’s First Minister in May, I will lead a government that gives our local authorities the powers to exempt essential local shops from paying business rates where there would be a real benefit to the community. This could make a huge difference to the overheads of these businesses and give them the chance to invest in improvements they might otherwise be unable to afford.

“In government we have already made progress in reducing business rates. I would like to go further still. The second point in this plan will see our business rates become lower than that of England. I want to give Scottish business a competitive advantage and to give a clear signal that Scotland is a great place to do business.

“Thirdly I want to bring forward changes to the system of business rate valuations to make sure that businesses are not penalised with an increase in their rateable value for taking the far-sighted decision to install microrenewables to reduce their fuel bills.

“These will be part of a wider Strategy that will allow us to relieve the burden on our smallest businesses and support wider economic growth in Scotland.”