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SNP to make rates relief pledge Extra funds to freeze council tax
(about 4 hours later)
Rates relief will be available to small firms as part of Scottish Government plans to help the country through tough times, the SNP conference will be told. More money will be put forward by the Scottish Government next year so that council tax can be frozen, the finance secretary has said.
The pledge will be set out by Finance Secretary John Swinney in a speech to the party conference in Perth. John Swinney made the pledge at the SNP conference in Perth.
He will confirm that 100% rates relief will be available from next April for "tens of thousands" of Scotland's smallest businesses. He also announced that small businesses would be offered 100% rates relief from next April to get them through the tough economic times.
The speech will set out investment plans already under way. Mr Swinney told delegates that "tens of thousands" of the country's smallest firms would benefit.
Mr Swinney will also echo Alex Salmond's claim that an SNP victory in the Glenrothes by-election will help lift Scotland out of the "Downing Street downturn". "In challenging times we cannot rest on what we have already done," he said.
'Financial whirlwinds' Removing barriers
He will tell the conference: "We are investing record amounts - £14bn over the next three years - in our nation's infrastructure: new railways, new hospitals and new schools. "We must do more to help people and businesses deal with the new economic conditions.
"These early actions - lower and fairer tax, record investment in our nation's infrastructure and a public sector that is working together - were designed to kick-start and maintain higher levels of growth." "That means fighting to protect jobs and decision-making in every single part of the Scottish economy but particularly at this time in financial services - and specifically on Halifax Bank of Scotland."
He said those measures would serve the country well "in the face of the current financial whirlwinds". Mr Swinney insisted the Scottish Government was doing its bit to to help the country through the economic crisis.
"And from April next year, small businesses will get a further boost, with 100% rates relief available to tens of thousands of our smallest businesses," he added. It had reshaped its building plans to help the construction sector, was improving the planning system to remove barriers to development and was promoting Scotland as a tourist and business destination, he said.
"When the SNP does well, Scotland does well - that is why SNP success in the Glenrothes by-election will send a powerful message to Westminster, and help lift Scotland up and out of the 'Downing Street downturn'." He also repeated demands made by First Minister Alex Salmond in his conference opening, that the Treasury release Scotland's share of the fossil fuel levy.