Supermarket levy could pay for 1,000 Scots nurses

The First Minister said MSPs lining up to oppose the proposed Large Retailers Levy, which will increase rates for 0.1 per cent of Scotland's most expensive business properties, risk punishment at the polls.

He said he has "absolutely no doubt" that the public is behind the proposals, which is intended to claw back revenue that has been flowing away from town centres into the pockets of large out-of-town retailers.

The plans have been dubbed the "Tesco Tax", for targeting Scotland's most profitable businesses. Mr Salmond said: "We have put a very sensible proposal.

"It is supported not just by the general public, who understand that the broadest shoulders should make a fair contribution, but also of course by the vast majority of businesses in Scotland.

"We saw the Federation of Small Businesses, which has 20,000 members, supporting it last week because they believe it's time to rebalance the relationship between out-of-town shopping centres and the town centres that we all want to thrive."

Mr Salmond said it was time that big supermarkets "paid a fair contribution to help when times are tough".

He added: "We've put forward proposals that are in the interests of Scotland, and the opposition parties better take care over this because I've got absolutely no doubt where the people lie on this one."