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Scottish ministers to keep a close eye on consultation on tax breaks for local newspapers

The Press and Journal
The Press and Journal

The Scottish Government will closely monitor a consultation on tax breaks for local newspapers.

In the budget Chancellor George Osborne announced that officials would consult on business rates relief for weekly titles in England.

As business rates are devolved to Scotland, pressure is growing on Edinburgh to follow suit.

The Scottish Newspaper Society wants the Scottish Government to match the review. Now the Scottish Conservatives are pushing for help as well.

North-east Tory MSP Nanette Milne said: “I have always valued the importance of local newspapers across the north-east in helping to cover important local news stories and provide a vital outlet for news and opinion. Local newspapers clearly play an important role in our local democracy.

“In recent years it has been clear that local newspapers have been hit by a significant fall in sales and this has seen the loss of a number of good local newspaper titles.

“I hope the Scottish Government move quickly to provide a similar level of support to our local newspaper industry to hopefully support a renaissance in local media.”

Scottish Conservative culture spokeswoman Liz Smith MSP said:
“We’re supporting the Scottish Newspaper Society in their quest to push for a similar move in Scotland.

“Local news is at the heart of our local communities, people rely on weekly titles for news and views.

“Without a doubt local newspapers are an incredible source of information and make local government and other public figures accountable to the public. Without them we’d be lost.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said local newspapers were a “vital part of their communities” and many were already benefiting from Scotland’s “most competitive tax environment in the UK”, through the business rates relief package worth £594million this year.

“The Scottish Government will monitor the debate around the UK Government’s consultation, reflecting feedback from across business in Scotland and building on our 20-point plan, as we deliver our own actions ahead of the 2017 revaluation and continue improving the system for ratepayers,” he said.