£47 MILLION HEALTH BUDGET BENEFIT FROM SNP

£47 MILLION HEALTH BUDGET BENEFIT FROM SNP

£47 MILLION HEALTH BUDGET BENEFIT FROM SNP

Labour plans would have seen investment in Scotland’s health service cut by nearly £50 million according to figures released in a Parliamentary Answer.

The figures obtained by Falkirk West MSP Michael Matheson show the impact Labour’s plans for an inflation only rise in health spending would have had on health board budgets.

The figures show health spending would be £47 million lower this year than it is under the SNP whilst some boards would have faced funding shortfalls of over £5 million each.

The Labour party had claimed health budgets would have had to “cut their cloth” if they were in power in Scotland.

Mr Matheson, a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Health Committee said;

“These figures expose the damage Labour planned to cause to Scotland’s health service.

“A Labour administration would have seen a £47 million funding shortfall in Scotland’s health service.

“My own area of Forth Valley would have been over £2 million short compared to the funding provided by the SNP, whilst Fife, Lothians, Lanarkshire and Glasgow would have seen over £5 million less in each of their budgets.

“With Labour planning a further billion pounds of cuts to Scotland’s budget this is just one example of Labour’s lack of support for our frontline services.

“The NHS is a vital public service and these figures show the SNP is the only party committed to properly investing in our health service.”