// Scotland’s business rates holiday is to be extended for a further 12 months
// Finance Secretary Kate Forbes announced the extension after confirmation of a further £1.1bn of consequential funding
The business rates holiday in Scotland is to be extended for a further 12 months for the retail, hospitality, leisure and aviation sectors until March 31, 2022.
Finance Secretary Kate Forbes announced the measure following confirmation of a further £1.1 billion of consequential funding arising from UK Government coronavirus spending.
In Scotland’s draft Budget announcement last month, Forbes said the holiday would be extended for a further three months and would end on June 30, 2021.
READ MORE: Scotland announces 3-month business rates holiday extension
At the time, the Scottish government also said that, should chancellor Rishi Sunak decide to continue the business rates relief past June 30 in the upcoming Budget, it would match the extension.
The business rates holiday in England is currently due to end on March 31.
The government recently urged councils in England to delay issuing business rates bills until after Sunak sets out the Budget on March 3.
“When I presented our budget last month I guaranteed to extend non-domestic rates relief further if I was given the necessary resources. I can now deliver on that promise, providing the UK Budget in March delivers the funding we require,” Forbes said.
“The other measures I am proposing today, including further support for hospitals, schools and local government and measures to tackle climate change, build on our priorities to ensure a robust recovery for our economy and public services.
“This welcome additional consequential funding was confirmed to us yesterday and I wanted give early notice to parliament and provide clarity to businesses.
“We are still in the throes of a national emergency and it is important Parliament works together to respond. I will continue to work with all parties to help deliver a budget for the nation fit for these times.”
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