SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT ASKS QUESTIONS ON £1bn IN FUNDING CUTS.

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT ASKS QUESTIONS ON £1bn IN FUNDING CUTS.

ROBERTSON CALLS ON LABOUR TO ‘OWN UP AND PAY UP’.

Questioning the Scottish Secretary in the House of Commons today (Wednesday) SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson MP challenged Mr Murphy to own up to Labour plans to cut the Scottish Budget by some £1bn over the period 2010/11 to 2011/12. Mr Robertson pointed out that Westminster was already withholding £1bn of Scottish resources which should be released and put to work for Scotland.

Speaking after the exchange in the Commons, Mr Robertson said:

”I don’t know how Jim Murphy can keep a straight face, he should own up to Labour’s plans to slash the Scottish Budget, and pay up the billion pounds worth of Scottish resources being withheld by the Treasury.

”It is clear from the Scottish Secretary that there is no priority in Labour’s plans for protecting Scotland’s economy. It would be madness to cut the Scottish budget at a time when we hope to be emerging from recession and while the Scottish Government is making every effort to keep the economy moving forward.

”We should be in a position during these difficult times to use Scotland's resources much more fully. There is no priority for helping the most vulnerable and low paid in these challenging economic times.

”With a record £13.2 billion North Sea revenues this year – and oil due to generate £55 billion of income in the coming six years, compared to £41 billion during the previous six – Scotland will be in absolute budget surplus, while the UK as a whole plunges deeper into deficit.

“Given the UK Government’s threat to slash Scotland’s budget, it is now absolutely imperative. In that sense, the kind of vague discussions about the powers of the parliament that have centred on the Calman Commission simply do not meet the needs and challenges of the times.

”We need the full financial powers of independence, and a referendum to give the people of Scotland the opportunity to choose their future – and avoid Labour’s Tory style cuts.”