Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 09 December 2020
Thank you, Presiding Officer.
Our union of four nations has wrapped its arms around Scotland and cushioned us from an unprecedented economic shock by protecting jobs and livelihoods to the tune of £9.5 billion. In September, the Scottish Government’s independent economic and fiscal forecaster said:
“The largest increase in spending in Scotland has been through UK-wide schemes”.
In addition, David Phillips of the Institute for Fiscal Studies highlighted the fact that the Scottish budget has been boosted by 14 per cent since the projections that were set out in February. As we know, that has been driven largely by extra funding from the UK Government.
Struggling businesses are not interested in politicking in the form of an SNP amendment. They know that additional funding was received in the spending review. That was weeks ago, but it is only today that we have heard how it has been allocated. Policy choices are in the gift of the Scottish Government.
That is precisely why we had to bring the debate to the chamber. Businesses want answers and clarity, not an exhaustive wish list that delays addressing the emergency that we now find ourselves in. Time is running out—as is the time that I have left for my speech—and Liz Cameron agrees. She said:
“For many, January will be too late to save business owners, their families and their employees from economic ruin.”