Question reference: S5O-00343
- Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 9 November 2016
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Current status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 16 November 2016
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on how the proposal by Edinburgh City Council to introduce a tourist tax could impact on the number of visitors to the city.
Answer
The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce a tourist tax. The Scottish tourism industry currently subject to UK Government VAT rates which are the seconds largest in the EU. However we are open to discussions with any local authorities that are interested, recognising that potential impacts and implications would need to be carefully considered.
More widely we continue to engage with COSLA around making local taxation fairer and ensuring local authorities continue to be properly funded while becoming more accountable.