Meeting of the Parliament 04 February 2026
We recognise that thriving businesses are key to growing the economy, and we engage and communicate regularly on a wide range of issues with businesses, business representatives and trade organisations, including the non-domestic rates consultative group, which I met immediately following the UK and Scottish budgets. I will meet the group again tomorrow, because we give a commitment to it not only to pass on in full the consequentials that are coming from the UK Government’s recent decision on NDR but to engage with the group to hear its perspective and views on how that money should be allocated to best support the sector.
We absolutely recognise that economic growth is at the heart of the Scottish Government’s agenda. We will continue to take the right decisions to support businesses in Scotland, and we must not forget the important role that non-domestic rates revenue plays in funding local services. We heard much from Conservative members earlier about local services, on which we all rely, and on the importance of regular revaluations to maintain the integrity of the NDR system.
I move amendment S6M-20653.3, to leave out from “the pressures” to end and insert:
“that the revaluation process is independent of the Scottish Government; notes the more than £320 million of business support announced in the draft Budget through transitional relief schemes and retail, hospitality and leisure relief over the next three years, and acknowledges the commitment from the Scottish Government to pass on, in full, any Barnett consequential funding from the UK Government’s change to non-domestic rates for pubs and music venues in England to businesses in Scotland.”
Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.