Current status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 29 April 2020
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason businesses associated with shootings, deer forests, fishing huts and game larders are ineligible to apply for the small business support grant to mitigate the impact of COVID-19.
We are determined to help keep companies in business and our financial support now exceeds the £2.3 billion passed on from the UK Government and actively works to fill the gaps in the UK scheme. In designing the relief and grant system we had to balance helping as many businesses as possible against what was affordable. Where possible these decisions prioritised traditional businesses occupying small properties over more generic lands and heritages such as huts, sites and bare ground.
Shootings, deer forests, fishing huts and game larders will be able to benefit from the 1.6% universal non-domestic rates relief in 2020-21, which will apply automatically to their non-domestic rates bills.
As with any other rateable property, owners, tenants and occupiers of these lands and heritages may apply for different reliefs. Many of these premises may be in receipt of up to 100 per cent rates relief which is available through the Small Business Bonus Scheme, and may qualify for Empty Rates Relief in specific circumstances.
The Scottish Government is also offering other forms of support outside of the non-domestic rates system and has just announced a £100 million fund to help micro and SME businesses as well as the newly self-employed not eligible for other schemes and with immediate cash flow issues.