TORY THREAT TO SCOTTISH FUNDING WOULD WIPE OUT SCHOOLS SPENDING
SNP HIGHLIGHT ENORMOUS THREAT TO SCOTTISH PUBLIC SPENDING
SCOTLAND’S BUDGET BEING RIPPED OFF FOR LONDON’S MISTAKES
Speaking on the morning the PBR will be announced, SNP MSP Joe FitzPatrick – a member of the Scottish parliament’s Finance Committee – has highlighted how Tory proposals for Scottish public spending would result in almost the entire Scottish school education being wiped out if they were adopted.
An analysis by Professor David Bell – adviser to the Scottish Parliament’s finance committee – has shown that Scotland could lose out on £4.5 billion a year from the Treasury if the Tory proposals were adopted. This is almost equal to the £4.7 billion spent in 2007/8 by local authorities on education.
With the most recent official figures showing that Scotland was in surplus for three years running to the tune of £2.3 billion – compared to a UK deficit of £24 billion over the same period – Mr FitzPatrick described the proposals as the real rip-off
A £4.5 billion cut from the Scottish budget a year would equal:
* 256,000 nurses for a year – almost FOUR times the 67,965 currently in Scotland
* 211,000 police constables for a year – over TWELVE times the 17,217 currently in Scotland
* Up to 145,000 prison places per year - almost TWENTY times the 7,434 currently in Scotland
* 220,000 probationary teachers for a year – over SEVENTY-FOUR times the 3,038 currently in Scotland
Expressed in terms of capital projects the sum would equal:
* Five Southern Generals at £842 million each
* Two replacement Forth Crossings at approximately £2.2 billion each
* 37 prisons based on £120 million each
Commenting Mr FitzPatrick said:
“The figures produced by Professor Bell are astounding and highlight the funding threat Scotland faces from the Westminster parties. They yet again show where the real rip-off is happening in Scottish public spending with the London parties showing their true colours.
“Not only do we have this ridiculous idea proposed by the Tories but along with the other London parties they support a system through the Calman Commission that has been described by a former IMF adviser as ‘a disaster waiting to happen’.
“The only alternative that would be acceptable is full financial independence and full financial responsibility for Scotland. That the London parties would consider such cuts just underlines the need for a referendum in 2010 so that we can extend the powers of the Scottish Parliament and gain responsibility for all of our tax and revenue.
“With the most recent official figures showing Scotland was in surplus to the tune of £2.3 billion for three years running compared to a UK deficit of £24 billion over the same time the only solution for Scotland is full fiscal independence.”
More info,
1. The original article can be read here:
http://thescotsman.scotsman.
2. Figures showing costs to Scottish public spending of loss of £4.5 billion.
- The average salary range for a nurse is between £17,600 and £21,325 - £4.5bn could cost up to 256,000 nurses for a year.
Source: UNISON Scotland’s Public Service Union, “Nursing 10% Pay Campaign”, http://www.unison-scotland.
- From April 2008, the normal initial pay for a new teacher was £20,427 - £4.5bn could pay for 220,000 probationary teachers for a year
Source: Teach in Scotland, “How Much Will I Get Paid”, http://www.teachinginscotland.
- Police constables on appointment earn £21,354 a year in Scotland - £4.5bn could pay for 211,000 police constables for a year.
Source: Careers Scotland, Police Officer, http://www.careers-scotland.
- Prison places cost between £31,000 and £40,000 - £4.5bn could pay for up to 145,000 prison places per year
Source: Scottish Prisons Commission report
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