Budget Process 2005-06

Part of the debate – in the Scottish Parliament at 10:15 am on 23 December 2004.

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Photo of Wendy Alexander Wendy Alexander Labour 10:15, 23 December 2004

Give me a moment and I will come to that.

For the Conservatives, gift-giving is guaranteed to end in all areas that are not health and education—transport, crime reduction, the environment and many other worthy causes are under threat. Indeed, if the Conservatives were to win the general election, Santa's loaded sleigh of this year would be downsized to a small stocking by next year.

To dwell on Mr Gallie's theme, I can say without fear of contradiction that at no point during the almost 300 days since the spring budget heralded both largesse in budget gift-giving and belt-tightening efficiencies, have I seen or read a single solitary SNP press release acknowledging that there might be a case for efficiencies, far less offering a single suggestion about how they might be achieved. The silence has been as eerie as any silent night.