Talking-up Scotland

From Insider today:

‘New rates changes coming into force in April will help stimulate the economy and improve transparency, the Scottish Government has said. From 1 April, there will be no business rates for unoccupied new properties and tenants who take them on will be rates-free for the first year. Where properties are improved, they will not pay any additional rates as a result of the improvement for 12 months.’

https://www.insider.co.uk/news/new-business-rates-scottish-government-12279237

These changes are unique to Scotland, can only help many new businesses, and follow a number of strategic initiatives, by the Scottish Government, designed to support the Scottish economy, already reported here:

Scottish Government funds help Scotland’s computer games industry’s massive growth

Scottish Government launches 50 new starter farms as Brexit threatens major food price rises

Scottish government to invest over £5 million in cutting-edge research

3 500 additional new-style apprenticeships confirmed for Scotland in 2018 as Scottish Government pushes on to increase youth employment further ahead of rUK

Scottish Government to spend £600 million on Superfast broadband for rural areas

These and other factors, of course, have resulted in a more robust economy than the BBC and its tame experts would have us know:

Business growth in Scotland well ahead of UK average

Scottish business confidence soars above UK level as sales increase