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John Swinney leads Osborne budget debate at Holyrood John Swinney leads Osborne budget debate at Holyrood
(about 7 hours later)
Finance Secretary John Swinney will lead a parliamentary debate on the chancellor's Budget, which he believes cannot deliver for Scotland. Finance Secretary John Swinney is leading a parliamentary debate on the chancellor's Budget, which he believes cannot deliver for Scotland.
Mr Swinney's motion says Scotland will only benefit if Holyrood has the "full range of economic levers".Mr Swinney's motion says Scotland will only benefit if Holyrood has the "full range of economic levers".
However, the SNP minister welcomed the UK government's package of support for the oil and gas sector.However, the SNP minister welcomed the UK government's package of support for the oil and gas sector.
Ahead of the debate, Tory MSP Gavin Brown said the Budget was helping low income families.Ahead of the debate, Tory MSP Gavin Brown said the Budget was helping low income families.
Mr Swinney highlighted Treasury analysis which he said "shows that those on the lowest incomes have been hit disproportionately hard by the deficit-reduction plans and that over 300,000 pensioners in Scotland will be adversely affected by the decision to abolish age-related income tax allowances in order to pay for tax breaks for the wealthy".Mr Swinney highlighted Treasury analysis which he said "shows that those on the lowest incomes have been hit disproportionately hard by the deficit-reduction plans and that over 300,000 pensioners in Scotland will be adversely affected by the decision to abolish age-related income tax allowances in order to pay for tax breaks for the wealthy".
He said Chancellor George Osborne had introduced some measures that were welcome, including:He said Chancellor George Osborne had introduced some measures that were welcome, including:
  • a package of measures to support the oil and gas sector
  • the provision of enhanced capital allowances for three of Scotland's enterprise zones
  • funding for Edinburgh to become a super-connected city
  • and the introduction of tax relief for the video games industry
  • a package of measures to support the oil and gas sector
  • the provision of enhanced capital allowances for three of Scotland's enterprise zones
  • funding for Edinburgh to become a super-connected city
  • and the introduction of tax relief for the video games industry
However, he will call on parliament to disagree with Mr Osborne's decision "not to provide funding for £300m-worth of shovel-ready capital projects which could be taken forward immediately to support jobs".However, he will call on parliament to disagree with Mr Osborne's decision "not to provide funding for £300m-worth of shovel-ready capital projects which could be taken forward immediately to support jobs".
Mr Swinney's motion states: "The chancellor's failure to deliver for Scotland demonstrates the importance of the Scottish Parliament having the full range of economic levers to deliver jobs, growth and fairness for the people of Scotland." Mr Swinney's motion stated: "The chancellor's failure to deliver for Scotland demonstrates the importance of the Scottish Parliament having the full range of economic levers to deliver jobs, growth and fairness for the people of Scotland."
Tory finance spokesman Mr Brown insisted the budget "focuses firmly on sustainable economic growth and helping low and middle income families".Tory finance spokesman Mr Brown insisted the budget "focuses firmly on sustainable economic growth and helping low and middle income families".
He said: "The record raising of the income tax threshold will help millions of people across the UK and lift many out of income tax altogether.He said: "The record raising of the income tax threshold will help millions of people across the UK and lift many out of income tax altogether.
"The reduction in corporation tax will encourage companies to invest and sends out a signal to the world that we are open for business."The reduction in corporation tax will encourage companies to invest and sends out a signal to the world that we are open for business.
"A number of other measures help Scotland specifically, such as capital allowances for enterprise zones, tax relief for the video games industry and incentives for the oil and gas industry."A number of other measures help Scotland specifically, such as capital allowances for enterprise zones, tax relief for the video games industry and incentives for the oil and gas industry.
"The budget achieves all of this while also reducing the deficit and restoring our economic credibility across the world.""The budget achieves all of this while also reducing the deficit and restoring our economic credibility across the world."