Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott MSP hit the campaign trail with Katy Gordon, candidate for Glasgow North.

The Liberal Democrats visited a bead shop in the constituency which is facing a significant rise in business rates following the changed ratings.

Answers from Parliamentary Questions show that the total amount taken from business rates rose by 6% in 2009/2010, that’s an increase of £112 million. Next year the Scottish Government anticipates that this will rise to £2.1 billion.

Liberal Democrats are proposing a transitional rates relief scheme, but the Conservatives and the SNP ganged up to vote this down earlier this month.

Commenting after the visit, Mr Scott said:

“Scotland’s small businesses are facing the toughest of times.

“Now more than ever they need Government on their side.

“And that’s what the Liberal Democrats offer – a fair deal for Scotland’s small businesses.

“The business I visited today is being hit by a significant rates increase, but entrepreneurs are being let down by Scotland’s other parties.

“Labour shrugs while state-backed banks refuse to lend.

“The SNP waves through vast hikes in business rates.

“And the Tories make a fuss about it but then vote against the solution.

“The Liberal Democrats are different.

“We know that small businesses are the backbone of the Scottish economy:

“And we know that they will play a pivotal role in pulling Scotland out of the slump.

“That’s why Vince Cable has proposed breaking up the banks, setting binding new lending targets and ensuring that successful Scottish businesses get the opportunities they deserve.

“And it is why we have proposed a transitional relief scheme that would shield businesses from this year’s hike in business rates.

“The revaluation has pushed bills through the roof while profits have plummeted.

“This could have been avoided.

“The higher rates could have been phased in.

“England and Wales did it and the Scottish Liberal Democrats have proposed it but our opponents have voted it down.

“The Bead Company is doing a fantastic job.

“It’s making money, generating jobs and moving forward despite the current climate.

“But it shouldn’t be such a struggle for others to achieve these outcomes too.

“So we’re calling on our opponents to take the plunge before polling day:

“Sign up to our banking lending policy

“Support the business rate help that we propose.

“Back our plan for a fair future for Scotland’s small businesses.”

Notes:

The text of the Parliamentary Questions, received by Lib Dem Finance spokesperson Jeremy Purvis MSP is below:

S3W-33227 - Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD) (Date Lodged Friday, April 16, 2010): To ask the Scottish Executive how much is projected to be collected from business rates in 2010-11.

Answered by John Swinney (Wednesday, April 28, 2010): The amount of non-domestic rates currently estimated to be collected in 2010-11 is £2.1 billion. A final amount will not be known until some time after the end of 2010-11, and will take account of what has actually been collected, as well as business rate reliefs and the results of any appeals.

S3W-32273 - Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD) (Date Lodged Tuesday, March 09, 2010): To ask the Scottish Executive how much revenue has been collected through business rates in each of the last three years, broken down by local authority area.

Answered by John Swinney (Tuesday, March 16, 2010): The following table shows the amount of business rates collected by each local authority in each of the last three years.

The Scottish Government guarantees each local authority a combination of distributable business rates plus general revenue grant, with the total amount calculated on the basis of assessed need in each local authority area. The actual amount of business rates collected by each local authority is then deducted from this guaranteed funding with the balance paid as general revenue grant. The amount of business rates collected locally therefore has no effect on the total guaranteed funding.