Swinney risks rates relief row

THE Scottish Government risked another row with angry small company bosses after publishing figures showing they were better off under a rates relief scheme.

Firms have complained about soaring bills but finance secretary John Swinney said the Small Business Bonus Scheme delivered average savings of more than 1,400 last year. In Aberdeen, East Dunbartonshire, Edinburgh, Inverclyde and South Lanarkshire it was more than 1,700, while in Glasgow and North Lanarkshire it was more than 1,800, he said.

Other recent figures showed the number of small business properties benefiting from rates relief packages were up 18 per cent to about 110,500. Of these, 74,000 paid zero or reduced rates due to the scheme, up from 64,000 in the previous year. But CBI Scotland assistant director David Lonsdale said a number of firms had voiced their "deep disquiet over the Government's decision not to place a cap on and phase in bumper increases in rates bills which have emerged from this year's revaluation".

He said many were already struggling to emerge from recession, while competitors down south have a cap on any hefty rises in their rates bills.