Opposition parties pick apart the review

The rates review has been labelled a missed opportunity by opposition parties.

The Scottish Conservatives said the report “merely tinkers round the edges” rather than provides the fundamental overhaul required.

Murdo Fraser, the Tory MSP, said there are welcome proposals in the Barclay Review but warned businesses will still feel vulnerable to huge rises that many were confronted with this year.

“Proposals around independent schools and sports clubs will also have alarm bells ringing in those sectors,” he added.

Jackie Baillie, the Labour MSP, said making local authorities pay business rates on facilities they run at arm’s length is “another burden on public services which are already dealing with budget cuts made by the SNP Government”.

Scottish Liberal Democrat economy spokeswoman Carolyn Caddick said replacing the property system with land value taxation would help to avoid big rate rises that are so crippling for businesses.

“The review misses the opportunity for radical changes that would benefit Scottish business,” she added.

Patrick Harvie, for the Scottish Greens, said the report should have recommended that NDR is made into a land value tax and that councils are given more powers to set the rates.

Finance secretary Derek Mackay said: “This report offers recommendations for reform of the system to make it work better for ratepayers across Scotland while ensuring that the contribution they make to important local services is maintained.

“Having now received the Barclay Review, the Scottish Government will respond swiftly to its recommendations.”

Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser.