Blueprint to create growth, jobs and deliver for Scots

Jeremy Hunt’s Budget represents a hugely significant milestone in the UK Government’s levelling-up mission to bring prosperity, economic growth, jobs and investment to Scotland.

When the Chancellor stood up at the Despatch Box, he announced a package that saw UK Government direct investment in Scotland burst through the £3 billion barrier.

I’m proud of the transformational impact this levelling-up cash is having across our country as we strive to create opportunities for all, regardless of background. I’m also delighted yesterday’s Budget puts more cash in the pockets of Scottish workers through a 2p cut in National Insurance. Combined with the NI cut last autumn that means 2.4 million Scots are benefiting to the tune of £680 a year.

I argued hard in Cabinet for this Uk-wide tax-cut, because I was determined that Scottish families should benefit from it. We’re also giving an average £1,260 boost to working families by raising the high-income child benefit charge threshold. I would urge Scottish Government ministers to use their income tax powers to follow our example.

Their insistence on making Scotland the highest taxed part of the UK discourages business, hampers growth and piles pressure on hardpressed families. Yesterday’s budget is giving tax breaks to families, driving down inflation and boosting communities.

On the latter, the Budget builds on our city & growth deals, freeports, investment zones, as well as the plethora of levelling-up funding streams, with yesterday’s announcements taking our direct investment past £3bn. Kirkwall, Peterhead, and Arbroath are getting £20 million each through the ‘long-term plan for towns’ programme, which already supports seven other Scottish towns.

Dundee’s magnificent V&A museum will receive £2.6m, with the cities of Perth and Dunfermline sharing £10m to support cultural projects of their choice, ensuring that all Scotland’s cities have benefitted under the levelling-up agenda. These are yet more examples of what I call real devolution, whereby the UK Government empowers communities, knowing locals are best placed to devise the projects that will benefit their areas.

Scotland’s whisky industry makes a crucial contribution to the UK economy. Therefore, it’s great news that the spirits duty freeze is to be maintained until February next year, a measure warmly welcomed by distillers. A a cash boost of up to £10m has been made available to support the Saxavord spaceport on Shetland. Subject to a successful business case, the cash will enable Saxavord to achieve its ambition of becoming the first site in Europe to launch a small satellite into orbit later this year and create and support hundreds of jobs.

With the Scottish Government already benefiting from a £41bn settlement from the Treasury, the largest in devolution’s history, the Budget delivers a further £295m in Barnett consequentials. With inflation halving and forecast to fall furtherthis Budget stimulates growth, creates jobs and delivers for Scotland.

•Alister Jack is Secretary of State for Scotland