Moray SNP News

LOCHHEAD COMMENTS ON SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT BUDGET

Moray’s MSP has responded to the SNP Scottish Government’s draft budget that aims to protect public services against the backdrop of austerity and cuts by the Tory UK Government.

The Deputy First Minister, Shona Robison, announced her budget in Parliament this afternoon, setting out the government’s determination to invest in Scotland’s NHS and to support households struggling with the cost of living crisis. 

Ms Robison announced an increase of £500m spending on frontline health services in Scotland, whilst the Tory Government has delivered a real terms cut of 3% to the NHS in England, as well as additional funding for local authorities to deliver a freeze in council tax. The Scottish Government will also freeze the poundage on business rates for properties with a rateable value up to £51,000 – making Scotland’s NDR poundage the lowest in the UK for the sixth year in a row. 

SNP MSP Richard Lochhead said: 

“The Scottish Government is having to deliver a budget in the toughest of circumstances following a real terms cut to the Scottish block grant by the UK Government despite the pressures on the public purse caused by high inflation, the cost of public sector pay deals, and the damaging impact of Brexit on the economy. Scottish Ministers have been forced to take some incredibly difficult decisions.

“The Deputy First Minister has set out the draft budget which delivers a real terms increase in funding for our NHS, despite only receiving an additional £10m in funding from the UK Government for health spending which equates to just 5 hours of capacity within NHS Scotland. 

“In order to try to protect household finances in face of the cost of living crisis, the Scottish Government has committed £144m of additional funds for local authorities to deliver a freeze in council tax for the coming financial year. I also welcome the continued freeze of the poundage for business rates, meaning the poundage for non-domestic rates in Scotland is the lowest in the UK for the sixth year running. 

“In terms of investment in infrastructure projects, it is alarming that the Scottish Fiscal Commission has confirmed that the UK Government is cutting Scotland’s capital funding by 20% over the next few years, which will seriously hamper the Scottish Government’s ambitions to invest in Scotland’s roads, schools and hospitals. 

“In turbulent times, the Scottish Government has sought to prioritise our NHS and public services, and of courses any opposition politician that wants money to be diverted elsewhere must explain what they would cut or how additional money can be raised.”