Tax to pay for unsafe cladding removal a step closer

Hello and welcome to our daily digest of business, financial and economic news from around Scotland.

1. Scottish ministers are moving forward with plans to make housing developers pay a new tax which would be used for cladding remediation work. A consultation on the proposed Scottish building safety levy has now been opened.

The charge is set to mirror similar legislation moving through Westminster, but tailored to the specific conditions of the Scottish housing sector. The level of tax has not yet been decided and the consultation runs until November.

Shona Robison, the finance secretary, said: “We are keen to hear from people across Scotland about our proposals, which would raise funds from developers to help safeguard people living in buildings with unsafe cladding.