Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 17 December 2025
17 Dec 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Recognising Small Business Saturday 2025
That is okay, because I am about to finish anyway.
A small business that runs bothies emailed me to say that it faces a rates bill rise from £11,000 a year to £31,000 but that nothing has changed at its site that would justify a tripling of rates. Finally, a small self-catering company in the Western Isles—somewhere I am passionate about—told me that it is facing a 209 per cent increase in its rates bill and that, if that goes ahead, the business will have to be wound up. I say that not as a joke but because I genuinely think that it will happen.
We heard earlier from Graham Dey, the Minister for Parliamentary Business, that the Scottish Government is taking the issue seriously, but I want to hear that the Government really is doing that and that things will change, because, otherwise, businesses will go under.
18:10In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-20035, in the name of Rachael Hamilton, on recognising small business Saturday 2025. T...
Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Con
I begin by declaring an interest as a business owner. That declaration of interests also applies to the interventions that I made earlier on Fergus Ewing in ...
Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Rachael Hamilton
Con
If it is quick, because we have to “Hark the Herald”.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I call Craig Hoy for a very brief intervention.
Craig Hoy
Con
Rachael Hamilton will be aware that, in many small businesses, the owners are the last to be paid, and are the lowest paid. Does she agree that it is disgust...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I call Rachael Hamilton.
Craig Hoy
Con
—to deliver for our communities?
Rachael Hamilton
Con
I completely agree with my colleague, Craig Hoy. Businesses have cited the hike of 3 per cent in employer national insurance contributions as incredibly chal...
Fergus Ewing (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind)
Ind
Will the member give way?
Rachael Hamilton
Con
I will give way to the member.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I call Fergus Ewing. Please be brief.
Fergus Ewing
Ind
Does Rachael Hamilton agree that the Scottish Government does have the power to put the proposed changes on hold and that, if the Government denies it, that ...
Rachael Hamilton
Con
I completely agree with Fergus Ewing. Scottish ministers do have the power, they make the rules and it is in their gift to pause the revaluation and change t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
We move to the open debate. Members have a strict four minutes. 17:48
Jamie Hepburn (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP)
SNP
I am very pleased to be able to speak in this debate marking small business Saturday and to help recognise the extraordinary contribution that small and micr...
Pam Gosal (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests. Before I begin, I thank my colleague and friend Rachael Hamilton for bringing this importa...
Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
Small business Saturday is an annual opportunity to celebrate the hard work of small businesses across the UK. Shopping locally is not just good for the econ...
Douglas Ross (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I congratulate my friend and colleague Rachael Hamilton on securing this important and topical debate. We have just been through small business Saturday and,...
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
I, too, congratulate the member on securing the debate and wholly endorse the vital role of small businesses in sustaining the town centre and local economy....
Tim Eagle (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests: I am a small farmer in Moray. I join others in thanking Rachael Hamilton for securing a ...
Rachael Hamilton
Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Tim Eagle
Con
Absolutely.
Rachael Hamilton
Con
We are all congratulating businesses. Christine Grahame just congratulated the Central Bar, but a cursory look at the Scottish Assessor Association’s website...
Tim Eagle
Con
I agree with Rachael Hamilton. If we believe in everything that we say about the circular economy and in supporting rural businesses and local economies, we ...
Christine Grahame
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Tim Eagle
Con
Yes, although I have almost finished.
Christine Grahame
SNP
I was tempted to intervene on the intervention. Of course, what happened to the Central Bar is wrong—that is why I am so pleased that there is going to be an...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I cannot give you much time back Mr Eagle.
Tim Eagle
Con
That is okay, because I am about to finish anyway. A small business that runs bothies emailed me to say that it faces a rates bill rise from £11,000 a year ...