40 questions on tax met with a ‘wall of silence’, says Moore

More than 40 questions have been raised about the proposal by the Treasury and business leaders in Scotland, only to be met with a “wall of silence” from Holyrood, according to the Liberal Democrat coalition minister.

The SNP wants to see corporation tax devolved as part of the Scotland Bill going through Westminster, and it is supported by leading businessmen Jim McColl and Sir Tom Hunter.

But Mr Moore said: “Weeks after the Scottish Government produced their paper on devolving corporation tax, we have heard nothing from them on the 40 or more questions that have been put to them by Scottish business and the Treasury.

“They must address these serious questions if they want to be taken seriously.”

CBI Scotland, Scottish Financial Enterprise, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, the Scottish Chambers and SCDI have all raised questions.

“It isn’t good enough to simply ignore them,” Mr Moore added. “My colleague David Gauke, the minister responsible for the UK tax system, has also asked questions and been met with the same wall of silence. It really isn’t good enough.

“The nature of the consultation was always dubious. It ended on 5 September and produced an outcome on 8 September without pausing for any reflection.”

But a Scottish Government spokesman said: “Successful business leaders and job creators in Scotland support the transfer of corporation tax from Westminster to Holyrood because, like the Scottish Government, they realise that Scotland needs full control of the key economic levers to meet the specific challenges facing our economy.

“Full responsibility for corporation tax would give Scots a greater incentive to start their own business, provide Scottish firms with a competitive edge to help them grow, make Scotland an even more attractive location for international investment and help to raise our standard of living, bringing jobs and wealth to communities across the country.”