Business rates are now to be capped

BUSINESS rates for the hospitality sector have been capped at 12.5 per cent after the Scottish Government bowed to pressure from umbrella organisations and media campaigns.

Proposed new business rates were announced to widespread condemnation.

It was feared that the new rates may have crippled many businesses due to the hike in tariffs but the Holyrood administration has said the rates have been capped until the Barclay Review is published into the setting of levies.

Argyll tourism expert Calum Ross, from Arduaine, who is a board member of the Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA) and Visit Scotland, had been working with the Scottish Government to try to secure some leeway in the business rates rise that in some cases was more than 50 per cent of an increase.