Stevenson Highlights Help for Small Businesses in Aberdeenshire

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has highlighted that almost 8,000 businesses in the Aberdeenshire Council area are to benefit from the SNP Government’s budget commitment to accelerate the business rates cut.

To help achieve a wealthier and fairer Scotland, the Scottish Government will reduce or remove rates bills for around 150,000 small business properties across Scotland.

Commenting, Mr. Stevenson said:

“This is great news for around 8,000 businesses throughout Aberdeenshire that will benefit from the SNP Government’s plans, with almost 7,000 of those benefiting from the 80% cut in April this year. This is a vital move which will encourage small business growth and start up in our area.

“Small businesses sit at the heart of the local economies in Banff & Buchan and this Government is now giving them a competitive advantage with their biggest tax cut ever.

"This is a major change which represents a huge reduction in the overheads for small businesses giving them a real chance to compete with the multinationals and major chains that are threatening the future of our High Streets.

“When the Small Business Bonus Scheme comes in to full effect businesses throughout Banff & Buchan and the surrounding areas will be saving up to as much as £1,870 per year. This is great news for our small businesses.

“But it does not stop there. As well as the cuts that the Government is giving to small businesses we also need to make sure that we buy local so that these businesses, which contribute so much to our local economies, remain viable and have the greatest opportunity to flourish.”

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Notes for editors:

From April 2008 rebates for businesses with a rateable value of £10,001 - £15,000 will increase from 12.5% to 20%; businesses with a rateable value of £8,001 - £10,000 will increase from 25% to 40%; and businesses with a rateable value of £8,000 will increase from 50% to 80%.

From April 2009 the SBBS will be in operation with businesses, whose combined rateable value of £8,000 or less have their business rates removed; businesses with a rateable value of £8,001 - £10,000 will have their business rates halved; and businesses with a rateable value of £10,001 - £15,000 will have their business rates reduced by a quarter.