The UK Cinema Association has welcomed an announcement this week from the Scottish Government that it will not be proceeding with previously-announced plans which would have seen ‘out of town’ retailers – including cinemas – potentially subject to a business rates surcharge.
In his Budget Statement to the Scottish Parliament this week, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Business & Fair Work Derek Mackay MSP confirmed that, in the light of representations made by a wide range of those sectors, the plans had been dropped.
In opposing the move, the UK Cinema Association had worked with the Scottish Retail Consortium and a large number of other companies and representative organisations, arguing that the proposal would add complexity, cost and unpredictability to the rates system in Scotland, as well as undermining commercial investment.