Question reference: S5W-27817
- Asked by: Andy Wightman, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 9 March 2020
-
Current status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 23 March 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will introduce non-domestic rates relief for small music venues.
Answer
On 18 March 2020, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture announced a package of support worth £2.2 billion to limit the impact of COVID-19 on the business community. As part of this we are providing a 100% non-domestic rates relief for all retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, which includes premises used wholly or mainly as music venues.
The Scottish Government is committed to delivering a fair and sustainable non-domestic rates regime for businesses from all sectors. The Scottish Budget provides the most generous non-domestic rates regime anywhere in the UK, including the small business bonus scheme (SBBS), which is more competitive than any of the equivalent schemes in the rest of the UK and provides up to 100% rates relief for small and medium sized music venues in Scotland.