|
£1
Billion Plus- The Cost of London Labour to Scotland
 SNP
MSP for Falkirk West, Michael Matheson has hit out at the
£874 for every family in Scotland denied to Scotland
by the Westminster Labour Government.
Michael
Matheson was referring to criticism of the UK Labour Government's
unreasonable behaviour towards Scotland in proposing to
withhold spending from Scotland to the tune of over £1.2
billion.
This
figure amounts to £874 for every family in Scotland.
Money
which should quite rightly be part of the Scottish budget
which the UK Labour Government is proposing to withhold
from the Scottish Government include.
-
The threatened loss of £400 million from Council
Tax Benefit money if Scotland goes ahead with abolishing
the unfair Council Tax as voted for by the Scottish Parliament.
This is despite post-devolution Treasury documents stating
it is an integral part of Scotland's funding arrangements,
the Scottish Block.
- £120
million of Barnett consequentials from £1.2 billion
spending on prisons south of the border from the "reserve".
Under Barnett spending increases on prisons south of the
Border generates 100% Barnett consequentials and therefore
an additional £120m for Scotland.
- £342
million less for the Scottish budget because of changes
in the health baseline by Alistair Darling in his much
delayed Comprehensive Spending Review. This was the worst
financial settlement for Scotland since devolution.
- Over
£184 million from Lottery Funding for Good Causes
that was withdrawn to fund the London Olympics after a
vote in the House of Commons. This was supported by both
local Labour MP's, Eric Joyce and Michael Connarty.
-
The threatened loss of some £165 million in Barnett
consequentials from London Olympic Regeneration spending.
This is money for regenerating areas of London where the
games will take place and outside direct funding for the
games.
- £8.1
million of compensation from DEFRA for farmers and crofters
which was withdrawn when Gordon Brown postponed an election
in October. This was originally in a draft statement by
Hilary Benn but excluded from the final statement.
- £370,000
which the Ministry of Defence is demanding from Tayside
and Fife constabularies for security costs of the G8 and
St Andrew's summits. The previous Lab/Lib Executive also
believed this to be unreasonable and the issue was inherited
by the current government.
Commenting
Mr Matheson said:
"The
UK Labour government is behaving entirely unreasonably towards
Scotland and we can now quantify that in pounds, shillings
and pence.
"But
as the polls on party ratings and independence indicate,
London Labour's bullying attitude towards the Scottish Government
and Scotland is backfiring badly.
"Scotland
is clearly short-changed in a whole variety of areas to
the tune of £874 per family - and the SNP will do
all we can to ensure that Scotland gets just treatment from
Westminster.
"This
situation also reinforces the need for a democratic referendum
on our future, and the need for the Scottish Parliament
to be responsible for all revenue and spending.
"And
the polls are all pointing in that direction - the surge
in support for independence shows that the negative attitude
being shown to the Scottish Government and Scotland by the
UK Labour government is getting a strong reaction.
"The
more that Westminster tries to lay down the law to Scotland,
the greater the support there will be for independence and
equality for Scotland.
"It
is also clear that Scotland needs strong representation
at Westminster to stand up for our interests.
"In
what could be very tight arithmetic at Westminster after
the next election, the bigger groups of SNP MPs that all
the polls forecast will be returned could well hold the
balance of power. In these circumstances, all the areas
where Westminster is currently saying No to Scotland would
very quickly change to Yes."
The
money being or proposing to be withheld is:
CSR
- £342,000,000
Olympic Lottery Funding - £184,208,400 FMD Compensation
- £8,100,000
Prisons - £120,000,000 Olympic Regeneration Funding
- £165,000,000
Council Tax Benefit - £400,000,000
G8 and St Andrew's summits - £370,000
TOTAL - £1,219,678,400.00
2.
£238 per man woman and child in Scotland. (Using GROS
2006
population estimate of 5.12 million)
Or £874 per family (assuming family size of father,
mother and 1.67
children - GROS - 2006)
3. Background:
a. CSR
http://www.snp.org/node/8223
b. Olympic Lottery Funding
http://www.snp.org/node/7363
c. FMD Compensation
http://www.snp.org/node/7988
d. Prisons Funding
http://www.snp.org/node/13613
e. Council Tax Benefit
http://www.snp.org/node/7560
f. Olympic Regeneration Funding
It is estimated that £1.7 billion has been allocated
for Olympics
budget for regeneration of areas of London which last years
beyond the games.
This would create Barnett consequentials of around £33
million a year
over the five years to 2012-13.
g.
G8 and St Andrew's summits
http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/MacAskill-rejects-call-to-pay.3907154.jp
|
