Budget
Scottish Executive Question Time
2:15 pm

Anne McLaughlin (Scottish National Party)

To ask the Scottish Government what stage discussions are at with the Opposition parties regarding potential changes to the Scottish budget after the general election on 6 May 2010. (S3O-10118)

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John Swinney (Scottish National Party)

We have made strong representations to all parties seeking their assurances that the 2010-11 Scottish budget will not be reduced by an incoming United Kingdom Government following the general election. The First Minister met Alistair Darling, George Osborne and Vince Cable last month. Mr Darling and Dr Cable have given commitments that no further reductions to the Scottish budget will take place in 2010-11 under their plans. Mr Osborne has indicated that the implications of reductions to the budget for Scotland for 2010-11 as part of Conservative efficiency plans could be delayed until next year. We continue to press for further information.

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Anne McLaughlin (Scottish National Party)

In light of that answer and the potential seriousness of cuts in future years, does the cabinet secretary agree that Scotland would be better served out of the bankrupt British state, free from the union's debt and destructive wars and free from the poisoned chalice of Westminster's patronising pocket-money funding mechanism, something that can happen only when this chamber has the full powers of a normal and independent Parliament?

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John Swinney (Scottish National Party)

I am delighted to confirm that I agree very much with Anne McLaughlin that Scotland would be better off as an independent country. We would certainly be able to take decisions that are appropriate to Scotland and to create the bold economic opportunities that our country needs at this time.

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Derek Brownlee (Conservative)

Will the cabinet secretary confirm whether it is still the Government's intention not to exercise one of the powers that it currently has and raise the Scottish variable rate of income tax? What are the Government's reasons for that decision and for how long will that decision be in place?

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John Swinney (Scottish National Party)

I know that Mr Brownlee is a keen reader of the Government's budget document, so he will know that it says that we are required to make a statement about whether we intend to use the Scottish variable rate. I confirmed during the budget process that that would not be the case. Obviously, the Government considers the question in every budget and we will consider it in the ordinary fashion whenever we have information from the United Kingdom Government on the likely scale of our budget settlement. I say to Mr Brownlee, however, that the Government's perspective has not been to use those tax powers since it came to office and I do not envisage that changing.

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Alex Fergusson (None)

Question 18 has been withdrawn.

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