In 2017 the Scottish government decided to exempt nurseries from business rate tax from the following year.
Derek Makay, who is the Holyrood finance secretary, said that “Scotland has always been a leader in education and childcare, and this is the first relief of its kind anywhere in the UK.”
Getting rid of business rate tax is thought to have saved the nursery industry around £8 million each year.
This tax relief was eagerly welcomed by the early years sector and by Purnima Tanuku, who said “We congratulate the Scottish government for its progressive thinking regarding early years education.”
In 2018 the Welsh Government decided to follow Scotland and from April 2019 nurseries in wales have been exempt from business rates.
The Welsh finance secretary, Mark Drakeford, said the move “will help to create new childcare jobs and help to create new and maintain existing childcare places across Wales.”
The minister for children, Huw Irranca-Davies, who said “by providing enhanced support for the childcare sector, we will further improve access to childcare places, supporting working families across Wales and make it easier for people to take up and retain jobs.”
Do you think that nurseries in England would benefit from having the same business tax rates removed?
Do you think that it would make a big enough difference?