BRC British Retail Consortium : The SRC response to the Scottish Budget

In its submission sent last week to the Finance Secretary and to Holyrood's Finance and Economy Committees reacting to December's Scottish Government Budget, the Scottish Retail Consortium has said that 'sobering' economic growth forecasts, the challenging political climate, and a retail industry in transition mean that the Scottish Budget must be passed in 'a timely fashion'.

The four-page submission:

• Praises the positive measures unveiled in the Budget but says weak forecasts mean lifting commercial investment and consumer spending will become 'even more critical'
• Notes the 'headway' being made on business rates, but says there is more to do to alleviate the growing rates burden and improve competitiveness
• Welcomes the town centres fund and says it should be opened up to Business Improvement Districts and others with 'good ideas'
• Backs the decision to protect those on modest or low earnings from income tax rises
• Says the industry is 'open' to council tax being replaced or reformed, however changes should 'take into account the impact on consumers'

Click here to view it.