SRC calls for unity across Parliament
THE Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) has called on ministers and MSPs from across the political spectrum to pass further support for businesses in the upcoming Scottish Budget.
Set to be announced on 4 December, the SRC has called on ScotGov to pass a pro-business budget that avoids adding unwarranted costs on to businesses and supports economic growth.
David Lonsdale, director at the SRC, said: “The Parliamentary arithmetic suggests that more than one political party will have to support the Scottish Budget this year.
“In these unsettling times when growth is weak, retail sales are flatlining and taxes and other statutory costs are spiralling, businesses crave certainty and predictability.”
This renewed call on ScotGov comes after the SRC sent Parliament its Scottish Budget recommendation papers in September, which contained suggestions for cutting costs of government while delivering support for retail business owners on areas including taxes, regulation and crime.
This has been further emboldened by the reveal of Westminster’s Autumn Statement, with the SRC claiming that the rise in employers National Insurance contributions had “fundamentally altered the outlook”, as it would add £190million each year to Scottish retailers’ costs.
With this in mind, the SRC sent Finance Secretary Shona Robison a letter in November to highlight these struggles directly to the Government and stated the tax hike will have a disproportionate impact on the retail industry.
Lonsdale said: “We hope Scottish ministers will bring forward a pragmatic pro-business Budget which doesn’t unfairly increase the cost of doing business and prioritises business taxes.
“In return, that should maximise the chance of a collegiate approach amongst Government and opposition MSPs which would ensure that a pro-growth and business-friendly Budget can be passed quickly without delay.
“Any failure to pass a Budget in good time would add a thick layer of uncertainty at an already challenging time for retail. We hope our political parties will collectively rise to the challenge.”
