In a  letter to MSPs, Usdaw explained that to devolve control over the poundage rate to local authorities could have ‘significant unintended consequences for retail and other sectors’ and exert ‘upward pressure on the poundage rate’, exacerbating the challenges facing the retail sector. Usdaw’s view is shared by the Scottish Retail Consortium and 23 other industry groups.
 
Stewart Forrest – Usdaw’s Scottish Divisional Officer said: “Usdaw is opposed to moves which would further devolve control of the poundage rate to local councils. We believe that such devolution could have significant unintended consequences for retail and other sectors. It could exacerbate the retail sector crisis, forcing more shops to close and therefore leading to a reduction in total revenue raised through business rates. I urge MSPs to engage with the industry and support calls for reforming business rates whilst retaining a uniform system across Scotland.”
 
Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with over 400,000 members. Membership has increased by more than one-third over the last couple of decades. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
 
Usdaw’s submission to the Parliament’s Local Government & Communities Committee: www.usdaw.org.uk/ScottishNDRBill
  
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion