Dundee SNP

LABOUR MUST TELL PUBLIC WHAT THEY WOULD CUT TO FUND GARL

Responding to the comments by Iain Gray that the Scottish Government must fund the over-budget Glasgow Airport Rail Link in order for the Labour group to support next year’s budget, the SNP’s Joe FitzPatrick has challenged Iain Gray to find the cash for the project.

Following funding cuts from Westminster, the Finance Minister John Swinney was forced to find almost £500 million of savings.

Member of Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee, Joe FitzPatrick MSP said:

“Iain Gray seems totally incapable of the simplest of sums. He wants the Scottish Government to fund every project under the sun, despite the fact his Government at Westminster is imposing unprecedented cuts. Iain Gray needs to learn than you can’t be irresponsible with the nation’s finances – his pal Gordon Brown did exactly that and lead us into the worst recession in 70 years. The SNP will not do that, we will always do what is best for the country.

“Steven Purcell has called for the scrapping of the Borders Rail Link and Free School Meals – I know this SNP Government will not ‘take food from bairns mouths’ in order to fund an unaffordable project. Mr Purcell seems to have an agenda against Scotland’s children having already sanctioned a mass cull of Glasgow’s Primary Schools.

“Iain Gray must now come out and say whether he also wants to punish school children, scrap the Borders rail project, or if he can find something else to cut, such as the new Southern General hospital or M74. He can’t make threats and demands without putting forward his own plan. He is looking more and more ridiculous every day he makes these economically illiterate and financially irresponsible remarks. “

TAX FAIRNESS ESSENTIAL IN WAKE OF RECESSION AND CUTS

SNP amendments to the Finance Bill focussed on helping households, businesses and communities will be debated in the Commons tomorrow (Tuesday).

The amendments seek to: introduce a fuel duty regulator to protect jobs in the transport industry and help motorists and businesses; introduce a fair tax regime on alcohol – to protect jobs in the Whisky industry; and proposals to overturn the unfair taxation of licensed bingo clubs.

SNP Treasury spokesperson, Stewart Hosie MP, said:

“Together we must all work to protect jobs and invest in recovery in the wake of Labour’s bombshell Budget.

“These amendments are about helping households and businesses. In contrast, Labour has chosen to stab at the heart of crucial Scottish budgets. I hope Scottish MPs of all parties will get behind these sensible proposals.”

On proposals for a fuel duty regulator, Mr Hosie said:

“A road fuel regulator would see any extra cash raised from VAT on higher pump prices go straight back into an equivalent cut in fuel duty. It would give a real lifeline to Scotland’s hauliers who are unable to plan effectively for the future because they do not know what the price of fuel will be and prevent the rising food prices that come from increased fuel costs.

“Further increases in fuel prices would be disastrous in the grip of recession. Fuel duty hikes may temporarily boost empty Treasury coffers, but increases will actually hinder economic recovery.

“The UK government should be easing the burden faced by business and households, and a fuel duty regulator mechanism would help do just that.”

On demands for a fair deal on whisky taxation, Mr Hosie said:

“The UK Government is treating the whisky industry as a cash cow. Only last year Labour Ministers announced record 17% in duty hikes, and now the pain continues. The whisky sector is one of the country’s key industries and it is a disgrace that the UK Treasury is treating it so badly.

“Alcohol taxation should be fair taxation with minimum pricing ensuring that the drinks that damage our society such as cheap ciders and budget beers are no longer sold at pocket money prices.

On proposals for a fair deal on Bingo taxation, Mr Hosie said:

“There is widespread support for bringing down the rate of Bingo duty from 22 per cent to 15 percent in line with the tax rate for every other form of gambling. This is about fair play for one of the most popular pastimes enjoyed by people in all communities.”

9,000 JOBS UNDER THREAT – SCOTLAND FACING BIGGER CUT THAN UK DEPARTMENTS

SNP Treasury spokesperson, Stewart Hosie, has highlighted Scottish Government figures that point to a threatened 9,000 job losses as a result of the real terms cut in the Scottish Budget in 2010/11 announced by the Chancellor today.

Mr Hosie pointed to remarks of the Chancellor during the Budget statement when he warned that spending cuts would “choke off recovery” and “you can grow your way out of recession – you cannot cut your way out of it.” The actions the Chancellor rejected for the UK are ones he is now forcing on Scotland. Scotland’s share of the proposed spending cuts is above our population share and will see a reduction next year in the Scottish Government’s Departmental Expenditure Limit of £500 million.

Commenting Mr Hosie said:

“Darling and Brown are speaking with forked tongues. This Budget threatens 9,000 Scottish jobs. It will mean a real terms cut in Scottish spending, and is the wrong choice in the middle of the recession.

“The Prime Minister and Chancellor attack the Tories for planning cuts in UK spending and yet Labour are doing the exact same here in Scotland.

“This is the first real terms cut in Scottish spending since the dark days of the Tory spending plans of the 1990s.

“The Chancellor’s actions will threaten our actions for recovery, by slashing the money available in Scotland to invest in jobs and communities.

“Unemployment has risen by 15,000 over the year in Scotland, and in one day, the Chancellor’s actions have put at risk 9,000 more.

“Labour are cutting the wrong things – they should not be cutting investment in Scottish economic recovery but the £5 billion they will spend on ID cards or the £25 billion cost of replacing Trident.

“It is right to tighten our belts, that’s why the Scottish Government has a 2% a year efficiency programme, with the savings reinvested in public services. But the UK plans top slice money from the Scottish Government budget.

“Labour have chosen to stab at the heart of crucial Scottish budgets in health and education, skills, housing and enterprise. The price will be paid by Scottish families and communities in lost jobs.

“It isn’t too late to force the UK government to think again – the people of Scotland can do this and protect jobs and our recovery at the European election in a few weeks and the general election in a few months.”

SCOTLAND HAS WHAT IT TAKES FOR A STRONG RECOVERY

Cuts to Scotland’s public spending in this week’s UK budget would damage Scotland’s recovery.

SNP Treasury Spokesman and MP for Dundee East Stewart Hosie today called on the UK Government to heed the warnings from the STUC not to cut public investment in this weeks budget.

STUC General Secretary Graeme Smith today warned the Labour Government that “cuts in funding for vital public services would be a disaster which Scotland’s communities will feel for many years to come.”

Welcoming the STUC’s intervention Mr Hosie said:

“Scotland has what it takes to recover strongly from this recession with public investment in jobs, training and enterprise, capital projects
across the country and support for frontline services.

“The SNP Government’s announcement off £95 million of investment in
skills, training and enterprise is exactly the kind of public support that
will see Scotland come through this recession in a stronger position.

“I fully agree with the STUC that cutting Scotland’s public spending at
this time could be deeply damaging to Scotland’s communities.

“It is simply nonsensical when what is needed in the economy is continued public investment that the UK Government would seek to limit Scotland’s potential with damaging cuts.

“As the First Ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have made clear – now is the time for investment in jobs and prosperity not public spending cuts that could have a harmful impact on our frontline services.

“Scotland’s communities will not easily forgive any politician or any party that stands in the way of Scotland’s recovery.”

As a consequence of the passing of the SNP Government Budget this week, many small business in Dundee will make significant savings which will aid their viability in the current economic climate.

A second round of business rates cuts for small businesses for 2009/10 will see almost 3,000 small businesses in Dundee being entirely exempt from business rates while a further 900 will make substantial savings.

Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick today welcomed the implications of the budget for Dundee.

He said: “Last year we were able to introduce rebates of up to 80% for smaller businesses and sizeable rebates for businesses with rateable values of £8,000 to £10, 000 and between £10,001 and £15,000.

“From April 2009, however, 2,884 Dundee businesses with a rateable value of £8000 or less will have their business rates entirely removed. Their average saving will be £1360 per year.

“Businesses with a rateable value between £8001 and £10,000 will have their business rates halved. That will affect 336 Dundee businesses, whose average savings will be £1870 per year.

“Those local businesses with a rateable value between £10,001 and £15,000 will have their business rates reduced by a quarter. Average savings for them will be £1340.

“Across Scotland in total some 150,000 small businesses will benefit. This is good news for Dundee and for Scotland.”

LABOUR SCOTTISH SECRETARY MORE INTERESTED IN PARTY POLITICS THAN OPPOSING TORY CUTS

Speaking following Scottish Questions today (Wednesday) SNP Treasury spokesperson Stewart Hosie MP said that Tory plans to slash Scottish public spending had been “exposed for all to see”. Mr Hosie said that the three almost identical questions – on the Barnett formula and Scottish spending – were a massive embarrassment to Scottish Tory MSPs who are backing the Scottish Government’s budget.

Despite these questions Labour Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy exposed his party’s right wing alliance with the Tories by indulging in a bout of negative scaremongering against the SNP – an action for which he was pulled up by the speaker for using his office for party political purposes.

Commenting Mr Hosie said:

”The Conservatives plans to slash Scottish spending have been exposed for all to see. They are little different from Labour’s plans to cut £1 billion from Scotland’s budget.

”Behind David Cameron’s smiles and spin, just like Labour, the Tories are set on cutting Scotland’s budget.

“Apart from being extremely irresponsible at a time of recession, these bitter attacks are also acutely embarrassing for Scottish Tory MSPs who are backing the Scottish Government’s budget.”

During Scottish Questions Mr Hosie also called on Jim Murphy to “stand up to the Treasury” and ensure that the £1bn planned cut to Scotland’s Budget was reversed. Mr Hosie highlighted comments by the Labour First Minister of Wales who conceded that the Chancellor’s spending plans will mean almost £300 million of cuts in public services for Wales.

Mr Hosie said:

“Rhodri Morgan realises that this is the wrong time to cut public expenditure, and Jim Murphy should recognise that too. A Secretary of State for Scotland worthy of the title would be fighting the £1bn of cuts to the Scottish budget, not defending them.

“Instead Mr Murphy showed his partisan streak by failing to defend Scotland against cuts and was pulled up by the Speaker for using his office for party political purposes. He just exposed how London Labour plan a huge £1 billion cut in Scottish spending.

“It is totally unacceptable for the Treasury to chop £1 billion from Scottish spending – especially at a time when Scotland is in budget surplus, contributing far more to the UK exchequer than we get back in return.

“There is now no argument against fiscal autonomy for Scotland – the alternative is seeing our public spending being eroded year on year, and our public services being undermined.”

Speaking ahead of tonight’s budget vote SNP MSP Joe FitzPatrick warned the Labour party that should they become the first major party to vote against the budget they would be isolated across Scotland with council tax payers, businesses and communities all facing potential costs from Labour’s decision.

By voting against this year’s budget the Labour party would be voting against;

· £230 million of capital expenditure brought forward by the UK Labour Government’s pre-budget report
· support for 5000 jobs – particularly in the construction sector
· funding being brought forward for the SECC and the Edinburgh bioquarter, the Fife Energy Park, and road improvements across Scotland
· £50 million of additional spending in the NHS including building new health and dental centres in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Ayr and Inverness
· £70 million of early investment in affordable housing

In addition Labour will be voting against

· Council tax freeze and increased funding for local authorities
· £40 million increase in funding for free personal care
· Investment in tackling hospital acquired infection
· Investment to reduce waiting times and to cut prescription charges further
· Abolition of business rates for 120,000 small businesses
· More bobbies on the beat

Joe FitzPatrick said:

“If Labour become the first major party to reject a Scottish budget the SNP will make sure that decision is heard loud and clear by communities and businesses across Scotland.

“Labour will be voting against jobs, against business and against investment in our public services.

“They will even be voting against the UK Government’s decision to bring forward capital spending to help the economy at this difficult time.

“They will be forcing their own local authorities to cut back on services and increase council tax by between £130 and £400 to make up the difference.

“Midlothian council has already agreed a council tax freeze – Labour will be voting to take funding for that freeze away from them – leading to cuts in services.

“Iain Gray is so desperate not to look like “mince” this year he is threatening to make a dogs breakfast of Scotland’s economy.

“No major party has ever voted against the Scottish budget and Labour must realise the serious social, economic and political consequences of their actions.”

The cost of the SNP Government’s Scottish budget failing in Parliament today [Wednesday 28] could be more than £1.8 billion, it was revealed today.

Prior to the debate on stage 3 of the Scottish Budget, Cabinet Secretary for Justice John Swinney claimed that the total cost of the Scottish Parliament failing to pass the SNP Budget would be £1.8 billion of lost spending in 2009/10.

Now Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick has revealed that the cost to Dundee of the Budget failing could be nearly as high as £52 million.

Joe FitzPatrick, who is an aide to the Cabinet Secretary, said: “In the event of failing to get a Budget through Parliament, emergency arrangements authorise the Scottish Government to spend at the levels of the latest version of the current year’s Budget. This allows the Government to spend on a month-by-month basis, and each month we could spend up to 1/12th of the 2008/09 Budget, or the amount paid out in the corresponding month of the previous financial year – whichever is the greater.

“In terms of the difference between the 2008/09 Budget (as revised in the Autumn Revision), and the 2009/10 Budget that we are currently putting through Parliament, there is a shortfall of £1.8 billion in the amount of cash that we are entitled to spend and in terms of Dundee, there would therefore be £51.8 million less for resources which would have a deeply damaging impact on jobs and services in the city.

“As we are in a recession, we need to get every penny of public resources into the Scottish economy. The people of Scotland will expect politicians of all parties to do all that they can to reach agreement on an effective Budget that will meet the nation’s needs in these tough economic times. The Dundee electors will not be pleased if opposition politicians wreck the budget for no good reason and cost the city nearly £52 million.”

SNP politicians in Dundee today reacted to public statements by Dundee City Council’s Administration leader, Councillor Keenan, that more Scottish Government funding was being sought to cover a projected £1.5m overspend in the Council’s Social Work budget.

Councillor Jim Barrie, SNP Group Spokesman of Social Work & Health: “I am pleased that the Scottish Government and Dundee Council are working very closely together on this issue.

“Although Dundee has some unique problems, the rising cost of provision of social services is affecting all councils and the areas where costs are rising most steeply are in the care of the elderly – we have an aging population – and in the provision of services to vulnerable adults and young people.

“There is huge pressure on staff and budgets due to, for example, provision of services to deal with the problems caused by drug and substance abuse.

“The Council is looking to be as efficient as possible and to ensure that the cost of these additional services are shared equally between the Council and its key partner agencies such as NHS Tayside and Tayside Police.

“One of the best aspects of the Concordat signed between the Council and the Scottish Government – apart from the record levels of funding – is the flexibility which it gives the Council to develop efficiencies in other budget sectors where demand is falling, or where services can be provided – or are already being provided – by other agencies.”

Commenting on the situation, Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick said: “Social Work Departments have always been under pressure across Scotland and as one of Dundee Council’s biggest spending Departments, there is nothing new in predictions of spiralling costs leading to an overspend.

“Councils have always faced the difficulty of providing services to meet rising demand in areas such as social work where staff costs are necessarily much higher than in other budget sectors.”

Shona Robison MSP said: “Through my regular meetings with the Chief Executive, I am well aware of concerns about the Social Work projected overspend and look forward to further discussions on the issue.

“I am also aware that the Council has discussed the situation with my Ministerial colleagues and put their case directly.”

LIB DEMS – “JOKERS IN THE PARLIAMENTARY PACK”

SNP MSP and Finance Committee member Joe FitzPatrick today backed the Scottish Government’s budget as MSPs voted by 107 to 16 to accept the budget during the first of two parliamentary debates.

Speaking after the stage 1 vote Mr FitzPatrick said;

“Whilst the budget still has a further hurdle to clear this is a welcome sign that the Scottish Parliament can come together in the face of economic difficulties to support a budget for Scotland.

“It is unfortunate that at a time when we all parties are pulling together the Liberal Democrats insist on sticking to their ridiculous and uncosted plans to slash public spending at precisely the wrong time.

“The LibDems are out of step and out of time.

“Their tax and cuts policy is not only a bad idea it is an impractical one, that could not be implemented for at least 12 months.

“Last year Iain Gray was the joker in the pack. This year that honour goes to Jeremy Purvis. He is the Budget Bill Joker in the Parliamentary pack.

“This budget will bring forward investment in infrastructure, will cut the rates for small businesses at the time they need it most and will support a continuing freeze in the council tax rates.

“Today’s vote is a welcome step and I hope parties will continue to work together to help Scotland’s economy during this difficult time.”