Meeting of the Parliament 26 March 2014
The 2016-17 analysis sets out the opening balance sheet of an independent Scotland. Acquiring the powers of independence offers up the opportunities to strengthen and build dynamism into the Scottish economy.
We have set out in great detail in the white paper the issues to be confronted. The Government will set out further projections. I am sure that Mr Brown will be first in the queue to welcome them, given his call for projections.
There are real choices in the referendum. The country can decide whether we want to resign ourselves to an agenda of austerity delivered by the UK Government or whether we want to do what everyone else in the world does, which is to take control of our destiny to ensure that we have the opportunity to create prosperity, fairness and sustainability for our people and our country. That is what the Scottish Government will offer.
I move amendment S4M-09462.2, to leave out from “expresses concern” to end and insert
“welcomes the detailed proposals for Scotland’s public finances and the economy set out in Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland; notes that, over the last five years, Scotland has been in a relatively stronger fiscal position than the UK as a whole by £8.3 billion, equivalent to £1,600 for every person in Scotland; further notes that Scotland has generated more tax revenue per person than the UK as a whole in every year since 1980; welcomes the record levels of investment currently being undertaken in the North Sea and the increase in production and tax revenue that this will generate in the future; is concerned by the impact of the UK Budget on households, whereby Treasury analysis shows that all households have lost income as a result of UK Government cuts, with the lower income families among the hardest hit; notes that, on current UK Government spending plans, 60% of cuts to public spending are still to come, putting Scotland’s economic future at risk; raises further concerns over the financial competence of proposals for further minimal devolution of income tax, and agrees that only independence will provide the Parliament with the full range of economic levers to improve Scotland’s economic performance and tackle inequality.”
15:05Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.