Scotland demands ‘urgent clarity’ from Westminster after Wales funding boost
Holyrood’s Finance Secretary is demanding “urgent clarity” from the Treasury over whether the Scottish Government will get cash to replicate a funding boost given to Wales.
Shona Robison is hoping to see the cash, delivered as part of the UK Government’s local growth fund, replicated in Scotland.
She raised the issue after it was announced this week that Wales will get £547 million over three years from the fund – with ministers in Cardiff to decide how the money is spent.
The Scottish Finance Secretary raised the issue ahead of a meeting in Edinburgh with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray.
Finance ministers
He will meet Ms Robison, together with the finance ministers from the other devolved administrations, at the Finance Interministerial Standing Committee on Friday, with Welsh Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford and Northern Ireland’s Finance Minister John O’Dowd both due to attend.
At the talks Ms Robison will also press the UK Government to deliver “real support” to help ease pressures on public services and tackle the cost-of-living crisis in next month’s Budget.
Rachel Reeves will set out her tax and spending plans for the country on November 26, with the Chancellor having already acknowledged she is looking at potential tax rises and spending cuts – stressing that those with the “broadest shoulders” should pay their share.
Ms Robison however insisted the UK Government needs a “change of approach” when it comes to the economy.
Cost-of-living crisis
The Scottish Finance Secretary said: “The UK economy is struggling and the cost-of-living crisis is causing real harm for people in Scotland.
“This is caused by high inflation, the damaging economic impacts of Brexit, and uncertainty as a result of decisions taken by UK Government, so it is vital we see a change in approach.”
She said the Chancellor should use her Budget statement “to deliver real support for public services, infrastructure and the cost of living”.
Ms Robison insisted: “The UK Government must accept that the Westminster economic consensus has failed and that there is a need for real investment.”
She also said ministers at Holyrood “need urgent clarity on whether local growth funding announced for Wales this week – to be delivered directly by the Welsh Government – will be replicated in Scotland”.
The Scottish Finance Secretary hit out: “Scotland has been short-changed in the past, and we must not be left as an afterthought in the UK Government’s Budget.
“And unless the Chancellor changes course, it will be clearer than ever that we need the fresh start of independence to support our public services and deliver a stronger economy that works for everyone.”
A UK Government spokesperson said that Friday’s meeting was “an opportunity to work collaboratively with Scottish Government colleagues”.
The spokesperson said: “The Chief Secretary to the Treasury is looking forward to hearing devolved governments’ priorities for the forthcoming UK autumn Budget.”
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The SNP are universally disliked for this type of political nonsense.
This is essentially to help replace EU structural funds, which Wales had more of. The UKSPF was computed differently, so some of this also replaces some of the ‘needs based’ funding Scotland got. It’s not even a political decision, just formulas based on deprivation/needs/previous funding levels…
When you say ‘universally disliked’ you’re talking about your own biased view. The SNP does an excellent job fighting Scotland’s corner. If only Welsh Labour had displayed a fraction of their gumption.
It would be nice to see a member of the Senedd getting national coverage like this when Scotland gets a better funding deal than Cymru (I.e. most of the time). Of course, what we really need is to try and get more than 50% of our population to join Yes Cymru. That would be a solid reminder to Westminster that Cymru should be treated fairly. I suspect that the EU fractional compensation may well be related to the Labour Party’s standing in the polls here. It would be nice if that were not true.
I mean by people who actually have to work with them!
Actually this attitude is generally quite counterproductive