peter macdonald
13-Sep-07, 17:28
From todays Herald
Scottish Government spending plans for the next three years are being squeezed more than expected, with an increase in funds of only half that previously assumed.
It was revealed yesterday that John Swinney, the Finance Secretary at Holyrood, is assuming there will only be an increase "in the region of 1%" above the rate of inflation when the Treasury announces its allocation for Scotland.
Previously, budget planning had assumed an increase of 1.9%, which was the figure used by Gordon Brown when he was Chancellor and gave an indication of likely spending in this year's UK Budget.
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This makes a potential difference of more than £250 million for each of the next three years in the level of spending available to the SNP administration.
The figure will not become known until the new Chancellor, Alistair Darling, announces allocations for Whitehall departments and the three devolved administrations, in a statement next month.
Mr Swinney will then use that allocation as the basis for his three-year plans.
The Holyrood administration has been making clear that the spending plans will be much tighter than the past eight years, but the 1% assumption is much tighter than previously acknowledged.
Ah well there can only be a couple of reasons for this 1) That will learn the people of Scotland to democraticly vote in a Government that is NOT Nu Labour or 2) to pay for the London Olympics which will "benefit the whole country" according to our friends at Westminster I wonder which country they mean???
Sad Sad but what do you expect from such a inept self seeking bunch ??
PM
Scottish Government spending plans for the next three years are being squeezed more than expected, with an increase in funds of only half that previously assumed.
It was revealed yesterday that John Swinney, the Finance Secretary at Holyrood, is assuming there will only be an increase "in the region of 1%" above the rate of inflation when the Treasury announces its allocation for Scotland.
Previously, budget planning had assumed an increase of 1.9%, which was the figure used by Gordon Brown when he was Chancellor and gave an indication of likely spending in this year's UK Budget.
advertisement
This makes a potential difference of more than £250 million for each of the next three years in the level of spending available to the SNP administration.
The figure will not become known until the new Chancellor, Alistair Darling, announces allocations for Whitehall departments and the three devolved administrations, in a statement next month.
Mr Swinney will then use that allocation as the basis for his three-year plans.
The Holyrood administration has been making clear that the spending plans will be much tighter than the past eight years, but the 1% assumption is much tighter than previously acknowledged.
Ah well there can only be a couple of reasons for this 1) That will learn the people of Scotland to democraticly vote in a Government that is NOT Nu Labour or 2) to pay for the London Olympics which will "benefit the whole country" according to our friends at Westminster I wonder which country they mean???
Sad Sad but what do you expect from such a inept self seeking bunch ??
PM