THE SNP are considering increasing business rates for large retailers which sell alcohol and cigarettes, it has been reported.
Green MSP Gillian Mackay (below) told the Daily Record the new tax would be part of Budget negotiations later this year.
It comes after John Swinney’s government outlined £500 million of cuts in order to pay for public sector pay deals.
The Scottish Government also suffered two defeats in parliament on Wednesday as MSPs voted to back free school meals for all primary pupils, and against brining back peak rail fares.
The Scottish Greens have previously signalled that they would not support the upcoming Budget, with co-leader Lorna Slater telling the BBC it is “hard to imagine” who would back it when it is delivered on December 4.
Mackay told the Record: “We urgently need to tackle the root causes of alcohol misuse and ensure that we are funding recovery services to support people and communities that need it.
“Minimum unit pricing has been an important step forward, but the money made from it is staying with the supermarkets rather than being used to support people and families who are on the frontline of the crisis.
“If retailers are profiting from the sale of products that are damaging public health, like alcohol and tobacco, then they should also pay towards mitigating the health and social costs that they cause.
“This is something that I hope MSPs from all parties can agree on and work together to deliver.
“With a budget due later this year, I hope that the Scottish Government will apply a public health levy to ensure that we are supporting frontline recovery services.”
Previously, a surcharge on large retailers brought in around £95m over a period of three years before it was scrapped in 2015.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: “In line with the New Deal for Business, we are committed to early engagement to ensure that any impact of any proposals on business is fully understood.
“Exploratory discussions have already started with business representatives, including the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) and other relevant stakeholders such as public health organisations.
“Those discussions will continue to ensure that considered and informed decisions can be made in advance of the 2025-26 Budget.”
However, deputy head of the SRC Ewan MacDonald-Russell said he believes a new surtax on retailers would be a “retrograde step”.
“There is no evidence retailers are profiting significantly from the rise in minimum unit pricing of alcohol, and larger grocery retailers already pay a higher property rate as part of their business rates bill,’ he said.
He added: “The reality is Scotland's retail industry already faces increased costs and a swathe of upcoming new regulations.
"We believe the onus from Government must be on growing Scotland's economy, something we think is at odds with this unfair and unnecessary cash grab.
“We hope the Scottish Government will follow through on their promises to put the economy first and therefore shelve plans for this surtax."
