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Scottish MPs to vote on budget plan

27 January 2011 23:29 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The Scottish members of parliament (MSPs) are to vote on the government’s 2011-12 budget plans for the first time, regardless of the opposition arguments that the plans do not support the economy, APA reports quoting Press TV.

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth in the Scottish Government, John Swinney said that his Â£33 billion proposals for the year supported the secured jobs.

However, the Labour and the Lib Dems have declared that the budget failed to support the economic revival of the country, following the Â£1billion reduction due to Treasury cuts.

The Finance Secretary said, "Scotland’s budget next year has been slashed by Â£1.3 billion as a result of Westminster cuts, planned by the previous UK government, and extended by the current UK coalition.â€

"Our budget seeks to address that financial challenge and faces up to the tough choices. We will protect households from rising VAT and inflation and ask the very largest retailers - those who can most afford it - to pay more in business rates,â€ he added.
The Tories said that all the Scottish MPs need to work on the plans in order to improve the budget plan.

The Labours said the government still needs more actions to make job opportunities and other occasions for the young people, whilst the Greens have asked for better public services.

John Swinney said, "The large retail business supplement will raise Â£30 million and affects only 225 out of 215,000 business properties in Scotland, less than 0.1% of all businesses in Scotland. It is supported by the largest business organisation in Scotland, the Federation of Small Business."