CBI Scotland comments on the Scottish Government's Budget

9 Feb 2012 10:56 AM

Responding to the Finance Secretary's statement in the Scottish Parliament yesterday during the Stage 3 debate on the Budget Bill, CBI Scotland's Director, Iain McMillan, said:

"The Scottish Government's Budget contains a number of positive measures such as on transport, broadband, renewables, and the prompt payment of suppliers.

"However, a far bolder approach to public sector reform and making savings could and should have been made in order to reverse the cuts to planning and the Budget's sting in the tail, namely the £131m in extra business rates to be levied on large retailers and firms with empty premises.

"The failure to rule out the introduction of any further additional business rate levies or rises during the remainder of the current parliament was a missed opportunity.”

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