Scotland throws down the gauntlet

Speculation grows over extension of retail, leisure & hospitality business rates relief for 2021/22

Earlier today the Scottish Government announced that the business rate holiday will be extended for a further 12 months covering the full financial year 2021/22. This will benefit businesses occupying retail, hospitality, leisure and the aviation sectors until 31st March 2022.

Speculation grew that the retail, leisure and hospitality rate relief would be extended into 2021/22 when the Westminster Government recently advised councils in England to delay issuing business rate bills until after the Chancellor’s budget statement on 3^rd March.

The Scottish Government’s welcome announcement was made following the provision of additional consequential funding from Westminster.

The announcement will put further pressure on the Chancellor to extend the relief for another year and perhaps extending this to other beleaguered business sectors beyond retail, leisure and hospitality.

In this case I would expect additional resources to be given to the Welsh Government in order to provide its own scheme of relief, either identical or similar.

We will all be waiting with bated breath on 3^rd March.