Ahead of the UK Autumn Budget, we have submitted our recommendations to the chancellor which focuses on actions that will increase prosperity by growing the economy and expand opportunities for working people. In particular, we call for action on:

• Stabilise and reduce policy-generated costs on employers through tax and regulatory reforms
• Pause the planned implementation of the changes to Inheritance Tax reliefs in April 2026
• A multi-year freeze in spirits duty to help restore confidence in the Scotch Whisky industry
• Increase funding for City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements
• Restore tax-free shopping for international visitors
• Changes to Transmission Network Use of System (TNUoS) charges so Scottish offshore wind projects can compete on merit for support in the Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 7
• Replace the Energy Profits Levy by spring 2026 with a new long-term mechanism, designed in partnership with industry
• Joint UK and Scottish working to urgently progress the proposals in Project Willow to secure the long-term industrial future for Grangemouth
• Joint UK and Scottish working to mitigate the impact of the late timing of the budget on payments to public bodies and voluntary organisations
• Make available the integrated settlement approach, already offered to English city regions, to Scottish city regions

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