SURVEY SHOWS CONFUSION OVER HOW SCOTLAND IS GOVERNED.

SURVEY SHOWS CONFUSION OVER HOW SCOTLAND IS GOVERNED.

PETE WISHART COMMENTS ON BRITISH SOCIAL ATTITUDES REPORT

Commenting on the British Social Attitude Report published today (Wednesday) that shows a third of people in England thought that Scotland receives more than its fair share of cash, and that a majority favour excluding Scottish MPs from voting on English only matters, the SNP’s Westminster Constitutional Affairs Spokesperson Pete Wishart MP said:

“This British Social Attitudes Survey shows a great deal of confusion exists in England about how Scotland is governed.

“The perception that Scotland receives more than its fair share bares no relation to the fiscal reality and is more about the distorted, selected facts of the metropolitan press and backbench Conservative MPs.

“The reality is that Scotland more than pays its own way in the UK. That is proved by the most recent analysis in the Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) report, which shows that Scotland had a budget surplus of £837 million in 2006-07, compared to a UK deficit of £4.3 billion.

“However, the belief that Scottish MPs should not vote on English only issues is just common sense and I share the frustration of English voters who have legislation imposed on them on the strength of Scottish Labour votes.

“What is required is a modern 21^st century relationship between our two nations that is based on equality, self respect and mutual co-operation.”