Scottish Parliament – Feb. 18, 2025 – 4

The final question is, that motion S6M-16488, in the name of Tom Arthur, on employer national insurance contributions, be agreed to. Are we agreed? S6M-16488: That the Parliament recognises the significant adverse impacts of the UK Government’s intended changes to employer national insurance contributions (ENICs) on Scotland’s businesses, third sector, public services and wider economy;

believes that the impacts are likely to result in higher costs, job losses, increased prices and cause some charities and businesses to close altogether;

notes the potential disproportionate impact of the changes on consumer-facing sectors of Scotland’s economy, such as retail, tourism and hospitality businesses, organisations providing social care and third sector organisations commissioned to provide public services;

agrees with the significant concerns expressed by 50 organisations in Scotland, including COSLA and the STUC, who, along with the Scottish Government, wrote to the UK Government describing the risk to the vital services that they provide due to these additional costs, and calls on the UK Government to reverse this decision and not raise ENICs as planned in April 2025.