Spending review needs to prioritise growth, Finance Secretary says

Finance Secretary Shona Robison has called on the Chancellor to “prioritise growth” and to fully fund the employer national insurance increase for Scotland’s public services ahead of the UK spending review next week.

Robison urged the UK Government to abandon some of its “damaging policies” such as cuts to welfare support for disabled people, to scrap the two-child benefit cap and to reinstate a universal winter fuel payment, ahead of the review on June 11.

She said the Scottish Government had not yet been provided with “clarity” on spending priorities.

She asked Chancellor Rachel Reeves to award funding for the Acorn carbon capture project and to ensure Scotland receives a share of GB Energy funding that matches its contribution to UK clean energy goals.

Robison said: “The UK spending review is an opportunity for the UK Government to abandon some of its damaging policies such as cuts to welfare support for disabled people, to scrap the two-child benefit cap and to reinstate a universal winter fuel payment.

“We are also aware of the huge impact of the increase in employer’s national insurance, not least on public services. I hope UK ministers will use the spending review to fully-fund the costs of this tax hike on jobs to vital public services like the NHS.

“The UK Government should also use the spending review to empower the devolved administrations with more flexible fiscal rules that can enable investment in public services.

“We need an end to spending that bypasses devolution so we can direct funds to best meet local needs.

“We called on UK ministers to involve us at an early stage of this process, but since they’ve refused to provide us with any clarity on their spending priorities it’s clear that its business as usual for Westminster.

“We continue to call on the Treasury to use the spending review to change course, providing the funding we need to deliver for the people of Scotland.”

The Chancellor said in a speech on Wednesday: “In a week’s time, I will set out a spending review targeted squarely on the renewal of Britain.

“Focused on the priorities of working people. By investing in our security, in our health, and in our economic growth.

“To deliver on the promise of change to make you and your family better off.”