NICOLA Sturgeon left Miles Briggs in tatters at First Minister's Questions today, after the Tory MSP compared health spending in Scotland to England.
SNP MSP Emma Harper had asked about the impact of UK Government's investment in the NHS on Scotland's health service, but the First Minister said not enough was known yet to give an exact answer.
Briggs followed up by towing the Tory line, and it backfired in a big way – as even recognised by his Tory colleague who was up next.
Below is a transcript of the question and answer.
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Tory MSP Miles Briggs: "The First Minister is known for never wanting to seek grievance and division between England and Scotland, but a key aspect of what the First Minister has not mentioned today, is the fact that under the Conservatives in England health spending has grown twice of that of Scotland.
"Does the First Minister not accept that since 2010 her Government has received £2.46 billion in additional Barnett consequential funding for her health service?
“So as we celebrate the NHS turning 70, can she not find it in her heart to actually welcome this additional funding?”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon: "When we know where the additional funding is, and if it does amount to the kind of sums that have been talked about, then of course we will welcome it – but we do not know that right now.
“And I will repeat again, when we were previously promised £33 million, when we saw the detail of that, it turned into £8.4 million. So forgive me, I think I'll wait to see the colour of the money first.
"But in terms of comparisons between Scotland and England, I’m not sure if Miles Briggs is aware of this, but health spending in Scotland is £163 per person higher than it is in England. That's 8% higher per head.
"In fact, Miles Briggs wants us to match the English levels of health spending … well, if we were to match the levels of per head health spending in England we would have to take £880m out of the NHS budget. That would be the price of matching spending in England.
"So if Miles Briggs doesn’t mind, we will continue to fund the health service fairly in Scotland, and we will continue to do it by being honest with people about the modest tax rises, instead of pretending like the Tories do that there’s some mythical unicorn of a Brexit dividend."
Presiding Officer: "Question number five, Michelle Ballantyne."
Tory MSP Michelle Ballantyne: “Let’s hope this will go better then.”
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