SCOTTISH Chambers of Commerce is calling for the planned rise in business rates to be reconsidered.
The rate is planned to rise by 5.6% in April with the figure based on last September's inflation rate.
However, with the consumer price index falling to 4.2% and the retail price index to 4.8% in December Scottish firms could end up paying around £8 million more than has been budgeted for.
Chambers chief executive Liz Cameron, pictured, said: "There is still time for the Scottish Government to apply a fair rate of increase in this year's business rates and minimise the financial burden on Scotland's hard- pressed businesses."
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