A survey reports that about one third of firms in the UK want business rates cut. The findings indicate that many businesses see the current rates burden as part of broader cost pressures. The Independent adds that Scottish businesses in particular are increasingly worried about survival, reflecting concerns about their ability to continue operating as expenses rise. The survey is presented as a measure of business sentiment around taxation and affordability, with responses suggesting a common desire for relief from business rates among a substantial minority of companies. While the reports focus on the share of firms calling for rate cuts, they also place the issue within the wider context of financial stress affecting companies. Taken together, the coverage suggests that business rates remain a contentious policy area for firms facing higher operating costs, and that concern about future viability is growing in at least some regions, including Scotland.