SNP needs to make budget changes to get Scotland working again

The Scottish Conservatives are urging the SNP to introduce a budget for economic growth to get Scotland working again. Finance spokesman Gavin Brown has written to Finance Secretary John Swinney asking him for a meeting to make improvements to his 2012-13 draft budget, ahead of next week's debate.

The Scottish Government has additional money thanks to Barnett consequentials from the UK Government's Autumn Statement. In addition, the Scottish Conservatives have identified savings, which could be used to produce a budget that will deliver growth and help get Scotland back to work.

We will argue for a series of changes to the SNP's budget, including more funding for colleges; action for Scotland's town centres; investment in housing; help for small businesses and a reversal of the retail levy.

Wednesday's unemployment figures show that almost 90,000 young Scots are out of work yet the SNP want to slash the budget for colleges.

Scotland's high streets are also suffering with disappointing retail sales over the festive period, while construction suffered its fourth fall in a row with a decline of 1.2%. The SNP talk a good game, but so far they have failed to prioritise growth and the economy.

Scottish Conservative Finance spokesman, Gavin Brown MSP said:

"It's high time the SNP better used the powers they do have through devolution to get the Scottish economy working again, rather than continually moaning about the powers they do not have.

"The problem is that the SNP has one eye on the constitution instead of mustering all their efforts to grow the economy.

"The SNP makes great play about trying to equip our young people with the necessary skills to get into employment, but then slashes funding for our colleges.

"Our town centres are crying out for more investment to make them more accessible for business growth and spending more on housing will have obvious benefits for the struggling construction industry.

"Many of the areas that support the economy and jobs have seen cuts while the SNP wants to increase the burden on business and at the same time bring in a new Scotland only retail tax."

Ruth Davidson said:

"The Scottish Conservatives will continue to put forward positive suggestions in being a constructive opposition.

"We will always try to engage with the SNP whether it's about legislation or a budget to ensure we get the best deal for the people of Scotland.

"Unfortunately during the recent passage of the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill, the SNP dismissed our amendments out of hand.

"We hope they will not take the same high-handed approach to boosting our economy."

Budget Process:

Stage 1 of the Budget (Scotland) Bill is on Wednesday, January 23.

GDP for Scotland - http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2012/01/12151042

Please find attached a letter from Gavin Brown to John Swinney asking for a budget meeting, and a table on the latest employment statistics.

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