Mr Jack tells of ‘record’ payment

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has spoken of Scotland’s “record” settlement amid SNP arguments that the Scottish block grant was “cut”.

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross branded Nicola Sturgeon a “fibbing” first minister in the Commons. Mr Ross said: “Yesterday Nicola Sturgeon wrote in the Financial Times that the Scottish Government’s budget this year, and I quote, ‘has not received a single additional penny from the UK Government’.”

Raising the issue during Scotland questions, SNP MP Patricia Gibson (North Ayrshire and Arran) said: “According to the House of Commons library, the Scottish block grant was cut by 4.1% this financial year and is set to be cut by a further 6% in the next financial year – a twoyear real-terms cut of nearly £5 billion.

“The UK Government repeatedly claims to be increasing the funding for Scotland but this is clearly not true.”

Mr Jack said: “The £41 billion settlement over three years was a record of figure since devolution began.”