Extra£350mdoesn’t makeupfor£3bncuts
THE Scottish Government will receive and extra £350million from the UK block grant as a result of measures announced in the budget.
In the next year alone, £100m will come to Holyrood in Barnett spending consequentials for the Scottish Government to spend as it sees fit.
The Tories in Scotland said it was a “budget Bonanza” that should rule out the need for tax changes and council cuts.
Ruth Davidson, Scottish Conservative leader, said: “The simple truth is that, if it was focused on the day job, the SNP wouldn’t need to make Scotland the highest-taxed part of the UK.
“With even more spending power now at its disposal, a competent government could give taxpayers a break and find the cash to support social care and schools across Scotland.
“The question facing the SNP is this – if Philip Hammond can support public services while protecting family pay packets, why can’t Derek Mackay?”
The SNP, however, said the cash was little compared to the level of cuts imposed over the last decade instead it said Scotland faced a “Brexit bombshell” which the Chancellor failed to address.
Stewart Hosie, SNP Westminster economy spokesman, said: “Scotland’s budget faces a real terms cut of £2.9billion as a result of 10 years of a Tory Government that the people of Scotland did not vote for, and now we face being taken out of the European Union despite the majority of people voting in Scotland to remain.
“The Chancellor failed today to set out how he will mitigate the Brexit bombshell we are facing.”
Labour also focused on the continued austerity cuts and the resulting reduction in spending in Scotland.
Kezia Dugdale, Scottish Labour leader, said: “The Chancellor could have brought an end to seven years of damaging Tory austerity, but instead he doubled down by imposing cuts to public services and welfare.
“Despite the £350m extra for the Scottish Government announced today, the reality is that by the end of this decade up to £1bn will have been cut from Holyrood’s budget, cuts the SNP chooses to meekly pass on to families here in Scotland.”
The LibDems, like the Tories, said the SNP should use the cash to spend on priorities i n Scotland.
Scottish leader Willie Rennie said: “The additional funds for Scotland means the SNP have no more excuses.
“They can now invest in mental health and education as we had recommended for the Scottish budget only a few weeks ago.
“By investing in people we will boost our economy. Let’s hope the Scottish Government don’t let this opportunity pass by again.”