UKHospitality Scotland responds to the Budget

Leon Thompson, Executive Director of UKHospitality Scotland, said: “The support provided on business rates for hospitality in England, and other high street businesses, does add to the additional funding of £600 million earmarked for the Scottish Government.

UKHospitality Scotland now urges the Scottish Government to go further, in its Budget on 3 December, and provide additional business rate support for hospitality here.

“Whilst it is immensely disappointing that the Chancellor chose not to reduce the rate of VAT for hospitality, this makes it even more vital for this business rates support to be passed to our businesses, and that existing support measures be extended to hospitality businesses with rateable values above £100,000. In doing so, business closures can be stemmed, and hospitality can play its full part in driving economic growth in every part of the country.”