Ross says Scottish budget will help north recover from Covid-19 crisis
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NORTH MSP Gail Ross has said the Scottish Government's draft budget will help the area recover from the Covid-19 crisis and help build "a fairer, stronger, greener country".
The SNP MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, was speaking after finance secretary, Kate Forbes, outlined her plans for the coming financial year.
Mrs Ross welcomed what she described as the "ambitious draft budget" which includes record funding of £16 billion for the health and social care service.
She said the finance secretary's measures focus on three key guiding principles - a national mission for new, good, and green jobs; promotion of lifelong health and wellbeing and driving equality and helping our young people to grasp achieve their potential.
Ms Forbes announced record funding of over £16 billion for the NHS and social care sector, £3.5 billion for social security and welfare payments, and investment of £2.7 billion in education and skills - with total investment increasing by £3.8 billion.
MSPs will vote on the draft budget proposals next month.
Afterwards, Mrs Ross said: "This budget has been delivered in exceptional circumstances as we continue to battle a global pandemic and face the harmful impacts of a Tory Brexit we didn’t vote for.
"Since the start of this crisis, the SNP Government has responded quickly and decisively to tackle the continued threats of the virus, while doing all it can to secure social and economic recovery.
"I’m glad this commitment to investing in jobs and education, resourcing public services for the challenges ahead - with record funding for our health and social care sector - and supporting households at a time of real uncertainty will continue.
"I sincerely hope that MSPs from all political parties will back this Budget, which will support Caithness, Sutherland and Ross’ recovery from this Covid-19 crisis and help us build a fairer, stronger, greener country."
Ms Forbes said local authorities are to be given £90 million of funding – the equivalent of a three per cent increase – on top of the local government settlement to compensate councils who choose to freeze their council tax.
To deliver stability and certainty from the tax system, she said there will be no changes to income tax rates this year.
She said: "During this time, it is vital that we also continue to support households and families. That is why I have ensured that no Scottish taxpayer will pay more income tax in 2021-22 than they do now on their current income and, for a fourth consecutive year, more than half of Scottish income taxpayers will pay less tax than if they lived anywhere else in the UK.
"In recognition of the increasing pressures on many family budgets, I am also providing local councils with £90 million on top of their settlement of £11.6 billion to freeze the council tax. This will ensure that while council tax bills won’t go up, there will be no impact on vital local services.
"Now is a time for stability, certainty and targeted support for the individuals and businesses who have been most impacted by the pandemic and our tax policy delivers this."
However, far north MP, Jamie Stone was unhappy there was no commitment from the Scottish Government to a public service obligation - a form of subsidy - for Wick John O' Groats airport.
