Figures released last week (31st October) show the Scottish Government’s Small Business Bonus Scheme has helped to support 4483 businesses in South Lanarkshire this year.

Across Scotland, the Small Business Bonus Scheme, introduced by the Scottish Government in 2008/09, paid out over £226 million in 2017-18, supporting over 103,000 local firms by reducing their rates liability and taking some firms out of business rates altogether.

Throughout South Lanarkshire, the number of firms benefitting from this flagship Scottish Government policy has risen from 2694 in 2008 to 4483 in 2017/18, with £11.3 million being spent across the local authority area to support local businesses this year.

Commenting, Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey said:

“To have 4483 businesses in South Lanarkshire and over 103,000 across Scotland benefitting from this policy is good for jobs and good for communities – helping to keep more money in our neighbourhoods and boosting our high streets.

“Over the last decade, the Scottish Government has taken strong action to support local businesses, while other parties have carped from the side-lines and chased cheap headlines rather than actually doing anything to support local jobs.

“The Scottish Government has delivered a staggering £73.3 million of rates relief across South Lanarkshire since 2008, showing we are the only party taking the necessary action to help our local firms.”

ENDS

Notes:

Figures sourced directly from:

http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Local-Government-Finance/NDR-Rates-Relief/SBBS2017

Date published: 1st November 2017