Nineteen leading business representative groups and industry bodies have jointly written to the Scottish Government's Deputy First Minister and Interim Finance Secretary asking him to freeze the business rate in the coming financial year.

The nineteen organisations, of which Scottish Land & Estates is one, represent a broad cross section of Scottish industry and commerce, including retailers, wholesalers, engineering manufacturing, tourism, hospitality and leisure.

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The collective call comes ahead of the unveiling of the Scottish Government's Budget on 15 December, which is expected to set the business rate and associated reliefs and thresholds for the 2023-24 financial year.

Scotland's business rate is already at a 23-year high. Last week in the UK Government's Autumn Statement the Chancellor of the Exchequer confirmed the business rate in England would not increase next April.

The joint letter from the business representative and trade bodies was submitted to John Swinney MSP, the Scottish Government's Interim Finance Secretary, earlier this week.