11 Ways To Boost Business

A leading think-tank's set out an 11 point plan to make Scotland the world's easiest place to do business.

Reform Scotland is calling for the likes of Air Passenger Duty to be scrapped and for virtual childcare vouchers

One suggestion is to make the likes of Fife Council decide business rates, and scrapping fuel and road tax in favour of pay as you drive pricing.

Recommendations:

• Scrap Air Passenger Duty
• Devolve business rates to local authorities in order that they can design their own schemes to suit local requirements
• Scrap fuel duty and vehicle excise duty and replace them with pay-as-you-drive road pricing
• Make Colleges autonomous charities, free from government control, to give them the same status as universities
• Transfer the functions of quangos either to local authorities, government departments or independent bodies
• Devolve more taxes to the Scottish Parliament, including Corporation Tax
• Reform the planning system, too often an inhibitor of economic growth, to incentivise local authorities
• A virtual voucher in childcare, with the money following the child to meet the needs of working parents
• All government contractors should be compliant with the Prompt Payment Code, to end late payments culture
• A one-stop-shop for government advice to business, with quicker progress on mygov.scot
• Certified digital identification of angel investors to improve the efficiency of investment in small businesses

Ben Thompson, Reform Scotland Chair, said: "There are three key factors which should power long-term economic growth - investment in infrastructure, a focus on education, and low taxes. However, in the current financial climate we have to accept that these key factors can be difficult to alter substantially. With that in mind, we therefore have to look at other practical measures we can take to create a healthy business environment and squeeze out as much economic growth as possible.

"Most of our eleven recommendations involve powers which are either already devolved to the Scottish Parliament, or soon will be. Furthermore, Scotland is in a hugely advantageous position in that it is small enough to implement these policies quickly in order to create the attractive business environment which we need to create jobs and prosperity while also generating the money to finance schools, roads and other public spending.

"The World Bank ranks the UK 8th in its 'Ease of Doing Business' table. It would be good to think that if Scotland was ranked separately, it could be number one. That should be our aim."