March 2010

Business Rates

Last week in parliament saw the Tories siding with the SNP Government to vote down a Liberal Democrat proposal for a business rates transitional relief scheme. There has been justifiable anger amongst the business community at the government's complete mishandling of the rates revaluation, and we proposed that there should be a transitional scheme to match that in England and Wales.

This would assist the particularly hard hit sectors. The problem of big rises in business valuation is particularly acute in the hotel and hospitality sector as the revaluation has been based on turnover in 2008 rather than the notional value of the premises. For many hotels, 2008 was the last good year of business. Many hotels have since been hit hard by the recession and will find that their profits are down but their business rates are rocketing. Liberal democrat research has shown that some hotel businesses in Scotland will face increases of as much as 120% in their bills.

In addition, it has been revealed that auction marts are also casualties of the revaluation. New figures show that auction marts in Scotland are facing astronomical rates increases that will impact severely as they come into force on 1 April 2010. Their competitors in England and Wales are being helped by the UK Government's transitional relief scheme, which will apply for the next five years, but Scottish marts are been left to fend for themselves. The hardest hit in the whole country is our local agricultural mart at Thainstone which will face an actual rates rise of £102,900 this year, representing an increase of 70%.

It is perverse that while agriculture and tourism are so vital to Scotland the Government refuses to accept that massive tax bill hikes will have an impact on the industry without any support to phase them in. It's not yet too late to introduce a transitional scheme, and I will continue to press the government to pay heed to the damage it is causing to business.

Electric Cars.

Nissan's announcement last week that the UK will be the third global manufacturing location for its electric cars is very welcome. The Nissan Leaf will be the world's first affordable, mass-produced, zero-emision car. The private sector is stepping up action for climate change and the Government needs to match that action.

During a debate on action for climate change last week I was pleased to win support for my amendment calling on the government to bring forward the planning and development of a national vehicle battery-charging infrastructure. Planning such a network is essential if there is to be a wholesale switch to electric vehicles in the 2020s.

Of course, such a switch cannot happen overnight, but if it is to happen at all, people will need to be sure that the right infrastructure is in place-or, at the very least, that it is properly planned for. Until a comprehensive charging network is planned for, electric cars can never be much more than gadgets-cars for short journeys-with petrol-fuelled cars remaining kings of the A roads. Once plans are in place for a charging infrastructure and there is evidence that the Government and the country are serious about making that change, even if it will not be completed for some years, people can at least start to give electric cars genuine consideration.

Autism Strategy.

My liberal democrat colleague Hugh O'Donnell MSP has recently launched a private members bill entitled 'a Scottish Autism Strategy Bill' The purpose of the bill is to require the Scottish Government to prepare and publish a strategy and issue guidance to local authorities and health boards to meet the needs of children and adults with autism. I was shocked by The National Autistic Society Scotland's recent survey findings that 48% of respondents rated their overall experience of current autism services as either poor or very poor. The survey also revealed that a third of people have had to go to a tribunal to get the right support. That explains why there is overwhelming support from autism groups for this Bill. The provision of effective and equitable autism services is something I have taken a keen interest in during my time in parliament, and I am pleased therefore to support the proposal for a Bill.

Flood Warning Scheme.

Local readers will welcome the news that SEPA has launched a new flood warning scheme covering the Dee, Don, Deveron and North Esk rivers. This £1m scheme will use state of the art technology to measure rainfall and river levels and issue early flood warnings, allowing people to take action sooner to protect their properties.