SNP blunder with bill drafting error could land Scots with £400m to pay

A “CATASTROPHIC error” in an SNP Government bill could land Scottish taxpayers having to pay compensation of up to £400million, it has emerged.

- BY BEN BORLAND

Nationalist ministers have drafted “emergency” legislation to be debated at Holyrood this week to rectify a mistake in the Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Act 2020, which dates back to when Nicola Sturgeon was first minister.

The current law, as drafted, does not allow business rates to be levied on unoccupied properties from April 1, 2023 — yet firms have been charged for empty properties.

APPALLING

The Scottish Government first became aware of the problem in August and its own financial memorandum estimates the cost of reimbursing affected businesses would be between £300m and £400m if the error is not addressed.

Scottish Conservative shadow finance secretary Craig Hoy said: “It’s appalling that Scottish taxpayers could have to bail out the SNP Government to the tune of £400m for this catastrophic drafting error.