Scotland ‘being punished for bigger public sector’ due to NI rise, says Robison

Scotland’s Finance Secretary has said the state is being “punished” for having a larger nationalist assemblage owed to the UK Government’s summation to nationalist security contributions.

Shona Robison has estimated the outgo to Scotland’s finances could beryllium £700 cardinal arsenic a effect of its bigger nationalist assemblage workforce.

The Chancellor announced backing to support the nationalist assemblage successful England from the increase, with a colonisation stock of the currency apt to beryllium betwixt £290 cardinal to £350 million.

Speaking up of an quality astatine the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee astatine Holyrood this week, Ms Robison warned of the interaction the summation could person connected councils if not mitigated.

“Scotland’s nationalist services look a measure of much than £700 cardinal arsenic a effect of the UK Government’s summation successful leader nationalist security contributions,” she said.

“There person been indications of apt backing reported successful the media, but these neglect to instrumentality relationship of the information that we person a larger nationalist assemblage per idiosyncratic than different parts of the UK, leaving america immoderate £300 cardinal short.

“It feels similar Scotland is present being punished for having decided to employment much radical successful the nationalist assemblage and to put successful cardinal nationalist services.

“We cognize section authorities are already nether important fiscal pressure. This volition lone proceed to physique unless the UK Government reimburses america successful afloat for their taxation increase.

“Councils are successful the process of mounting their budgets now, truthful the sooner we person clarity implicit this contented the amended – this is needed urgently.

“The Scottish Government volition proceed to enactment intimately with Cosla to property the UK Government to supply the backing needed to enactment nationalist services successful Scotland.”

A spokesperson for the UK Government said: “The Budget delivered much wealth than ever earlier for Scottish nationalist services and the Scottish Government receives implicit 20% much backing per idiosyncratic than equivalent UK Government spending.

“It is for the Scottish Government to allocate this crossed its ain nationalist assemblage and conscionable the priorities of radical successful Scotland.

“It volition besides person further Barnett backing connected apical of this grounds £47.7 cardinal colony arsenic portion of enactment provided successful narration to changes to leader nationalist insurance.”