THE “storm clouds of austerity are on the horizon” following the Chancellor’s Budget, Scotland's Finance Secretary has said.
Rishi Sunak delivered the UK Government’s tax and spending plans in a statement to the House of Commons earlier today.
As a result, Scotland is due £1.2 billion in Barnett consequentials from UK spending choices, while the £20 weekly uplift to Universal Credit has been extended to September, as has the furlough scheme.
Calls had been made in recent days by opposition parties and poverty groups to make the Universal Credit increase permanent with SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford describing the end date in September as a "cliff-edge" for millions of families.
READ MORE: SNP and Labour see big holes in UK Budget that fails to deliver 'meaningful change'
Scotland’s Finance Secretary Kate Forbes said: “While I welcome some of the announcements today, it is clear the Chancellor has not matched Scotland’s ambition for economic recovery and supporting households.
“The extension of the furlough scheme and self-employed support will be a relief to many and is something that the Scottish Government has repeatedly called for. However, it is extremely disappointing that the Chancellor has failed to reverse the cuts to Scotland’s capital budget and has refused to make the £20 uplift to Universal Credit permanent.
“The UK Government’s support for businesses and households is significantly less generous than what we have committed to here in Scotland.”
Forbes continued: “While there is some additional funding for Scotland, it was clear from the Chancellor’s statement that the storm clouds of austerity are on the horizon once again; with the OBR [Office for Budget Responsibility] highlighting that departmental spending is being cut by £15 billion – a move that would be disastrous for our economic recovery, undermine our public services and impact on the most vulnerable in our communities.”
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross praised the Budget, describing it as delivering “vast economic support and investment to individuals, businesses and communities across Scotland”.
READ MORE: Ahead of the UK Budget Kate Forbes urges Rishi Sunak to extend furlough scheme
Business groups in Scotland have welcomed some changes in the Budget, in particular to the furlough scheme.
Andrew McRae, the Scotland policy chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, said the announcement “gives the bulk of Scotland’s small business community more fuel to get through the last lap of this crisis”.
The Scottish Tourism Alliance also welcomed the extension of furlough, but the chief executive, Marc Crothall, said there needed to be a “robust and tapered financial support package” that is “delivered quickly to the businesses who need it the most”.
David Lonsdale, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, added: “There is much retailers will welcome from the Chancellor’s Budget.
“The continuation of the furlough scheme is sensible and necessary with non-essential retailers remaining closed and without a firm date for re-opening, albeit we would question what will take its place if there are further lockdown restrictions later in the year.
“The announcement of further business rates relief will not directly affect Scottish shops, but the Barnett consequential revenues from the Chancellor’s decision should hopefully ensure the more generous 100% year-long relief for Scottish retail and hospitality envisaged by the Finance Secretary can now be confirmed.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel