AUCTION MARTS WILL LOSE OUT THANKS TO THE SNP AND TORIES (Jim Hume)

AUCTION MARTS WILL LOSE OUT THANKS TO THE SNP AND TORIES

April 15, 2010 12:00 AM

Jim Hume, Liberal Democrat MSP for the South of Scotland, launched a stinging attack on Scottish Government Ministers and Conservative MSPs for voting against a Liberal Democrat motion that would have secured a rates relief scheme for businesses facing damaging hikes in rates for the new financial year.

During a Scottish Parliamentary debate earlier today, A Liberal Democrat motion called on the Scottish Government to listen to industry voices and bring in a rates relief scheme similar to that in England.

Mr Hume said:

"Here are the facts - Newtown St Boswells auction mart faces an increase of £44,000; Dumfries auction marts faces a £10,000 increase whilst Lockerbie and Castle Douglas also face hikes.

"These are unbearable rises for businesses and will do nothing for our agricultural economy in the middle of a recession. Particularly in the South of Scotland there is a genuine risk that business will go across the border where there is a rates relief scheme in operation.

"We needed a show of real support from SNP Ministers for Scottish businesses today. But what we got instead was Ministers taking the arrogant risk of hiding in the safety of this chamber making damaging decisions about our economy, as they promote their Saltire whitewash out in the real world in a bid to fool the public.

"The public are not stupid and the SNP need more than the clichéd romanticism of Braveheart to prop them up. As we've seen from tonight's vote, they've once again been propped up by their Tory pals."

ENDS

Notes to editors.

The Liberal Democrat Motion read as follows:-

S3M-6140 Jeremy Purvis: Supporting Business-That the Parliament notes the crippling increases in non-domestic rates bills in Scotland, particularly in hospitality, tourism, auction mart and petrol station businesses; further notes the increases in the Scottish Budget resulting from the 2010 UK Budget, and calls on the Scottish Government to cap 2010-11 business rates increases at 12.5%, or 5% for small businesses, while allowing those who gain under the revaluation to see the benefits immediately.