New figures show that the Scottish Government’s business rate relief scheme benefited businesses in the Stirling area between 2009-10 and 2016-17.
Across Scotland, this scheme has saved taxpayers around £4.5 billion between 2009-10 and 2015-16 by reducing their rates liability and taking many firms out of business rates altogether.
And across the Stirling area, the latest figures show that 2,868 local firms benefitted from this flagship Scottish Government policy in 2016. This figure does not, however, include premises that qualified for the new 100% reliefs introduced, including Day Nursery Relief and the Business Growth Accelerator.
Commenting, local SNP MSP Bruce Crawford said:
“The SNP is delivering the most competitive business rates relief package in the whole of the UK, saving businesses in the Stirling area £85 million over the last seven years. The Scottish Government will also spend an estimated record £720 million on rates relief across Scotland in this year alone.
“Since coming into office, the SNP Scottish Government has taken strong action to support business growth and jobs in the Stirling area, helping to keep money in our neighbourhoods and boost our high streets.
“Only the SNP are taking the necessary action to help our local firms – and it is great to see 2,868 firms benefiting from rates relief in 2016, a figure that will likely rise with the new measures introduced in this year’s budget.”