Pub bosses hail Tesco tax

THE Scottish Government's controversial "Tesco tax" on large retail outlets has been backed by the Scottish Licensed Trade Association.

It said pubs, whose rates are based on turnover rather than floor area, already paid up to nine per cent of turnover while supermarkets' rates bills typically amounted to around two per cent of turnover.

It also claimed the need to redress the financial burden of commercial rates to help smaller businesses was more important now than ever.

SLTA chief executive Paul Waterson said: "The Scottish Government has identified a fair way to raise money in this very difficult economic climate. Our members support this initiative, which will go some way to addressing a major imbalance in the way supermarket rates are calculated."