Tag Archive for budget

MSP Critical of Opposition ‘Manuevering’ Over Budget Proposals

January 27, 2011 Joe FitzPatrick MSP No comments

Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick has criticised the ‘political manuevering’ of Labour, Tory and Lib Dem MSPs who voted down the SNP Government’s proposal to raise £30m from a levy on the largest out-of-town supermarkets.

Speaking after the Stage 1 Budget Debate at Holyrood today, Joe FitzPatrick said: “This SNP Government is doing its best within its limited powers to protect households and defend public services but Labour, Lib Dems and Tories have just cut £30 million from the budget for Scotland’s public services adding to their London counterparts cuts of £1.3 billion.

“Today’s vote shows the irresponsible priorities of opposition parties with Labour supporting the Tories as parties happy to increase VAT on families, raise council tax on households but refuse to tax big businesses to help Scotland’s economy.

“We must remember that two-thirds of the cuts we are having to grapple with in this budget were planned by the last Labour Government. Cuts which Alistair Darling said would be ‘deeper and tougher’ than those imposed by Margaret Thatcher.”

Speaking in the debate, the Dundee MSP said: “The first 4 years of SNP Government will have seen a freezing of council tax bills whereas the last 4 years of the Lib Lab administration witnessed an increase of 11% for households in Dundee.

“A band D household in Dundee would be paying an extra £150 on top of their bill this year if there was no freeze.

“And those figures assume that without the council tax freeze rates would go up roughly in line with inflation but if we take a look back we remember that the sky was the limit when it came to Labour’s determination to squeeze council tax payers.

“Between 1997 and 2007 council tax in Dundee went up by a staggering 51% and the worse year in that period was 1997/1998 – when Labour slammed the council tax up by 14.9% in just one year.

“But there is one group who can afford to contribute a little more and that’s the large supermarkets. “Provisional figures indicate that Tesco would have been the largest contributor through the Government’s proposed increase in business rates, paying some £8.5 million annually.

“When you set this in the context of the £3.4 billion of pre tax profits declared by the company last year, it doesn’t seem unreasonable that they should contribute a little more.

“It is very disappointing that Labour voted against the council tax freeze which would save ordinary households money while at the same time they voted for big business like Asda and Tesco to be exempt from contributing a little more.

“Labour has a track record of putting the interests of big business before the interests of ordinary folk.

“We recently witnessed it with the Alcohol Bill, when Labour came out to bat for the big drinks companies to the detriment of the health of the people of Scotland.

“There is good news in the Budget and I welcome the restated commitment for funding for the V&A at Dundee in the Budget. This is a major step forward towards the completion of the project, crucial to securing the remaining investment and allowing the project to move forward at full speed.

“Dundee is already seeing inward investment being stimulated and we’re seeing a positive uplift to the local economy on the back of the V&A project moving forward so strongly.

“With this Budget the Government are standing up for communities, maintaining the 1000 extra police officers, standing up for households with Council Tax to be frozen for another year and investing in our future with funding for the V&A at Dundee.”

Lib Dems Have ‘Betrayed’ Voters – Dundee MSP

December 28, 2010 Joe FitzPatrick MSP No comments

Commenting on the interview in the Herald today (Tuesday) by the LibDem Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, where he described Westminster cuts as “common sense”, “unavoidable”, “progressive” and “civilised”, SNP MSP Joe FitzPatrick – a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee – said it just underlined how far the LibDems had gone in betraying their voters.
 
Mr FitzPatrick pointed out that before the May election this year LibDem leader Nick Clegg and Vince Cable had been strongly against such an early cuts programme and Nick Clegg described them as “economic masochism” and added that if “If anyone had to rely on our support, and we were involved in government, of course we would say no.” 
 
Commenting Mr FitzPatrick said: “In opposition the LibDems were vocal in opposing the type of cuts Danny Alexander is now driving through. Cuts that are damaging and which Scotland never voted for.
 
“Danny Alexander’s comments just show how far the LibDems have gone in betraying their voters. If it is not tuition fees, the VAT rise the it is supporting the Tory cuts which they call masochistic.
 
“His astonishing comments just show how the LibDems now enthusiastically support the Tories; that they are the same as the Tories and they are doing the Tories’ dirty work.”

Tory Cuts Too Far, Too Fast, Say SNP

October 4, 2010 Stewart Hosie MP No comments

Commenting following the speech by Chancellor George Osborne to the Conservative party conference today (Monday), SNP Treasury spokesperson Stewart Hosie MP warned that the scale and ferocity of the cuts planned by Tories and the Liberal Democrats endangered the Scottish recovery.

Mr Hosie said: “Labour ran up the massive debt, and the hard and fast cuts George Osborne proposes are the wrong decision for Scotland, threatening our recovery.

“The damaging approach being taken by the ConDem Coalition underlines the urgent need for the Scottish Parliament and Government to achieve economic powers and financial responsibility – to boost economic growth, jobs and build the Scottish recovery.”

GRAY WANTS TO PLAY FAST AND LOOSE WITH COUNTRY’S CASH

November 23, 2009 Joe FitzPatrick MSP No comments

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. “

SECURING JOBS CENTRAL TO SNP BUDGET AMENDMENTS

May 12, 2009 Stewart Hosie MP No comments

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.”

£500 MILLION CUT CONFIRMED – SCOTLAND WILL SEE REAL TERMS CUT IN INVESTMENT

April 22, 2009 Stewart Hosie MP No comments

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.”

BUDGET MUST SECURE PUBLIC INVESTMENT

April 19, 2009 Stewart Hosie MP No comments

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.”

MSP Welcomes Rates Cuts Boost For Dundee Businesses

February 6, 2009 Joe FitzPatrick MSP No comments

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.”

RIGHT-WING ALLIANCE TARGET SCOTLAND’S SPENDING

February 5, 2009 Stewart Hosie MP No comments
LABOUR SCOTTISH SECRETARY MORE INTERESTED IN PARTY POLITICS THAN OPPOSING TORY CUTS

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.”

LABOUR “NO” VOTE WILL BE HEARD ACROSS SCOTLAND

January 28, 2009 Joe FitzPatrick MSP No comments

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.”

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