ASDA INCOME TRACKER SHOWS SCOTLAND REMAINS BETTER OFF THAN UK

ASDA INCOME TRACKER SHOWS SCOTLAND REMAINS BETTER OFF THAN UK

SNP GOVERNMENT POLICIES PUTTING MONEY BACK IN PEOPLE’S POCKETS

TIME LABOUR STOPPED TALKING SCOTTISH ECONOMY DOWN

Glasgow SNP MSP Bill Kidd has welcomed the results of Asda’s latest income tracker which shows that Scottish households have higher incomes than the rest of the UK and hailed them as a result of the SNP Government’s policies putting more money into people’s pockets in the midst of the current recession.

According to the report for October 2009:

* Average family spending shows the average UK family’s is £10 a week higher compared to £11 a week higher for Scotland – a difference of £52 over the year

* Gross incomes show the average UK figure is £6 higher than a year earlier compared to £8 higher than a year earlier for Scotland – a difference of £104 over the year

* Incomes after tax shows the average UK figure is £2 a week higher than a year earlier compared to £5 a week higher for Scotland – a difference of £156 over the year

The report also says that: "...in 2009 the average Scottish household has seen spending power rise faster than in the UK as a whole."

Commenting Mr Kidd said:

“These are very welcome figures that rather undermine the doomsayers from the opposition who would rather mislead and talk down the Scottish economy. These figures show that Scotland is faring better in the current recession and that is something that is welcome.

“I have no doubt that Scottish Government policy is helping Scottish households during this difficult economic period.

“The Council Tax freeze, scrapping bridge tolls, reducing prescription charges, scrapping graduate endowment, and the small business bonus – all are helping people maximise their incomes in these tough times.

“That Scottish households have more income than those across the UK is good news and begs questions of Labour’s policies south of the border.”