Police VAT issue had been settled
Dear Editor Mr Clark Cross’s letter (SNP needs to thank UK Government – February 20) shows he was struggling to find something against Scotland when he revisited the issue of VAT refund to Police Scotland.
He says that now that VAT is being refunded the Scottish Government should thank the Leaning Tower of Babble on the Thames.
He states, “...the SNP stubbornly refused to listen to advice”. Apparently, the Scottish Government isn’t allowed to make changes to matters under its control without the permission of Westminster. This same Westminster is leaving the EU because it took the huff over having to take orders from a higher authority in Brussels. Sauce, geese and ganders. London has effectively stolen £90 million from Scottish taxpayers, let us be in no doubt about that. Furthermore, the money would have gone to enhance Scottish law and order.
The Scottish Government were negotiating with London from the start. The Tory overlords decided to play nasty and refuse to alter the legislation to accommodate the change in Scotland. The legislation concerned was The VAT Act 1994, Section 33. This section lists public bodies that can reclaim VAT, including local bodies. When Scotland moved to a national police force, this refund no longer applied. However, it applies in Northern Ireland, where there is a similar province-wide force, so there was no reason why it couldn’t be applied to Scotland.
There was no change to total repayment, just one large one instead of several smaller. Clause 33K, ending the list, states: “Anybody specified for the purposes of this section by an order made by the Treasury”. In short, a Treasury Junior Minister had simply to state in the Commons that forthwith there would be one payment to Police Scotland.
The marriage allowance issue has been settled. That remote crumbling pile on the Thames will mess Holyrood around (we’re seeing both Wales and Scotland being ignored over EU withdrawal legislation) because it has enough LEOS, Little Englanders Of Scotland, in place to act as Fifth Columnists. Their constant toxic drips will help weaken Scotland and thus comparatively strengthen Westminster. Thomas R Burgess Perth