SCOTTISH Government plans to raise taxes on empty commercial properties will cost its own enterprise body almost three-quarters of a million pounds a year, it was revealed yesterday.
The figures, obtained by the Conservatives through Freedom of Information, show Scottish Enterprise has 414 empty properties, which will cost it an additional £733,000.
Business groups have estimated that the bill to cut empty property rates relief, which is due to be voted on in parliament tomorrow, will increase the business rates paid by firms by £18 million a year.
The Tories claimed the tax increase for Scottish Enterprise was “significantly more than the maximum of £400,000” estimated by the Scottish Government in evidence presented to the parliament’s finance committee earlier this year, which also stated Scottish Enterprise only had 200 empty properties.
Gavin Brown, the Conservative finance spokesman, said: “I find it staggering that the SNP’s own enterprise body will have to find an extra £700,000 which, instead of going to help businesses, will now end up in the government’s coffers.
“The Scottish Government says it will spend every penny possible on growing the economy, but here it is doing precisely the opposite.
“If a body like Scottish Enterprise cannot shift 400 properties – how can others be expected to cope? There is still time for this ill-judged policy to be scrapped,” he said.
ERIKKA ASKELAND