Image source, bbc

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was urged to intervene after a world leading surgeon cancelled his visit to Scotland to help remove mesh implants from women who are in pain.

During FMQs Scottish Conservative interim leader Jackson Carlaw said there was a suspicion there had been a co-ordinated attempt to block the trip.

Mr Carlaw, in tears, asked Nicola Sturgeon to give the controversy her personal attention.

Nicola Sturgeon said she hadn't seen any evidence of obstruction, but that she was willing to speak personally to Dr Dionysios Veronikis as the government still wants him to come to Scotland.

The first minster also pointed out no vaginal mesh implants have been carried out in Scotland since the chief medical officer ordered a halt last October.

That's all from Holyrood Live on Thursday 10 October 2019, we're back after the recess.

Image source, PA Media

MSPs back the general principles of the Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Bill, external.

97 voted for it and 6 abstained.

Image source, Getty Images

MSPs pass the Transport (Scotland) Bill, meaning plans for a levy on workplace parking will become law.

56 MSPs backed it, 29 voted against and 18 abstained.

An attempt by Labour to remove the parking levy aspect was defeated during a debate on Wednesday.

The same fate befell a series of amendments proposing exemptions from the car park tax.

The bill will also shake up bus services, introduce low emission zones in cities and ban parking on pavements.

• Will you have to pay to park at work?

Image source, Bill Harrison

Ministers plan to "enhance" the business rates system through the Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Bill.

The reforms include ending the relief which many independent schools have been able to claim as charities.

Some within the sector fear this will directly lead to schools raising fees, offering fewer bursaries or closing.

Non-domestic rates are levied on business properties, determined by the assessed value of the building, and are the second-highest source of tax income for the Scottish government.

Read more.

Image source, Getty Images

Plans by the Scottish government to introduce more frequent business rate revaluations will fail unless a "more modern" tax system is delivered, a business lobby group warned in September 2018.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said modernisation should include a new "digital rates interface".

It argued the move would help firms pay bills, apply for reliefs, lodge appeals and submit data.

FSB was responding to a consultation on proposed business rates legislation.

Read more.

Image source, AFP

Leisure centres, some golf clubs, private schools and universities should be brought fully under the business rates system, according to a review.

The Barclay Report into non-domestic rates, external also recommended that childcare centres should be exempt.

The system had faced strong criticism, particularly from hospitality firms.

The review was commissioned by the Scottish government in March 2016 and headed up by Ken Barclay, former head of Scottish operations for RBS.

• Read more
• Good enough? Reaction to the Barclay review
• Find out who responded to the Barclay review's public consultation, external

Image source, bbc

Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur agrees with many of the concerns and analysis that Andy Wightman has just outlined.

The Barclay review was "hobbled in its scope", adds Mr McArthur, who goes on to say the risk in trying to fake localism is you create more of a mess.

He calls for power over rates to be ceded to local authorities, giving them the clout to shape their own communities.

The Lib Dem MSP says his party backs a land value system could generate economic benefits and insists this is not a major bill, rather it is a small bill.

Green MSP Andy Wightman says there has been no reform to local tax since 1992 and he therefore welcomes the introduction of a bill.

However, he says it only focuses on technical measures and he criticses the fact the Barclay review only asked one question and had to be revenue neutral.

He confirms the Greens will be bringing forward amendments on:

• giving local government the power to set non-domestic rates
• placing all properties on the rates roll
• establishing progressive rates rather than a flat tax

But Mr Wightman says the Greens major concern is that the bill removes this tax base from its history owners - local government - and therefore violates international law.

He confirms his party will abstain this evening.

Image source, Getty Images

More than 400 bank branches, shops and local businesses have closed or have been winding down in Scotland since the start of 2016, new figures show.

The Federation of Small Businesses is calling for measures to reverse the closures, averaging nine a month.

In a report, it says the Scottish and UK governments must invest in projects to make towns better places to work, live and run a business.

The group also wants a commission to tackle the rise in vacant properties.

Read more.

Ms Boyack criticises the tight remit of the Barclay review.

She highlights an urgent need for incentives for low carbon investment.

The Labour MSP warns that tax avoidance corrodes public trust and she calls for an approach to prevent repeat offenders.

Image source, bbc

Leading for Labour, Sarah Boyack says non-domestic rates are a vital part of funding local services.

Ms Boyack says her party welcomes the broad thrust of the bill but believe it is a missed opportunity.

She welcomes:

• the three year revaluation cycle
• removing the charitable tax exemption from independent schools
• improvements to the appeals system

Regarding independent schools, Mr Fraser says there is an inconsistency in providing a relief to private-run nurseries but removing it for schools.

It is disappointing that the large business supplement will not be reduced by this bill he adds, suggesting it is losing Scotland business.

Tory MSP Murdo Fraser says he generally welcomes the bill, though suggests in some areas it does not go far enough.

It does not implement all Barclay review recommendations, he notes, such as removing the tax concession for ALEOs which could have introduced the "swim tax".

He welcomes to move towards a three-year revaluation schedule, as well as some of the reliefs proposed.

The Tory MSP wonders if the next revaluation could be brought forward a year to 2021, but the minister intervenes to say there needs to be time to implement the reforms.

The committee's report on the Non-Domestic Rates Bill also:

• welcomed the move to change revaluations from every five to three years was appropriate
• supported reforms to close a known tax avoidance tactic for those who own holiday homes which can be used to avoid paying any local tax on the property
• supported for the introduction of the ‘Business Growth Accelerator’
• expressed concern that the small business bonus scheme currently contains a ‘cliff edge’ which stops small businesses expanding
• called for practical steps to reverse town centre decline and bring back shoppers and businesses to our high streets

Image source, bbc

James Dornan says the Local Government and Communities Committee endorsed the Non-Domestic Rates Bill.

The committee convener welcomes the switch to a three year cycle for revaluations.

He welcomes the minister pledging to look at fees for appeals.

The SNP MSP pivots to ending the tax relief independent schools have been able to claim as charities.

Mr Dornan argues this is a change the sector will be able to adapt to.

Ms Forbes says reforms to the appeal system is perhaps the most important and ambitious part of this package.

Without doing so, we risk negating any benefit from the other changes she suggests.

Regarding the plan to scrap independent schools being exempt from rates, the minister says the different rates treatment between independent and state schools is unfair.

She urges MSPs to back the general principles of the bill.

Image source, Google

MSPs have backed a major reform of the business rates system, including a plan to strip independent schools of charitable status.

The local government committee concludes the Non-Domestic Rates Bill would facilitate a "more modern and fair ratings system".

And while it backed the view that independent schools should no longer be able to claim charitable status, the Conservative members dissented from this conclusion.

Convener James Dornan said: "We recognise the strength of feeling from the independent school sector about the Bill’s proposal to remove charitable rates relief from them.

"However, we believe this will level the playing field with state schools and generate vital funds for local authorities at a time of increasing demand on their services."

Read the report in full. , external