CENTRAL SCOTLAND MSP CONDEMNS TREASURY DECISION TO CLAW BACK £104 MILLION FROM SCOTLAND - SCOTLAND’S FRONTLINE SERVICES SET TO PAY THE PRICE OF LABOUR’S RECESSION
SNP MSP for Central Scotland, John Wilson, has hit out at Alistair Darling’s decision to increase employers’ National Insurance contributions by 1% from 01 April 2011 as the Scottish Government revealed the move is set to cost Scotland £104m from 2011 - 2012.
Commenting, John Wilson said: “Labour’s decision to increase national insurance to pay for their recession is going to have a direct effect on frontline services throughout Central Scotland.
“In this Budget week we know that the Scottish Parliament will suffer a cut of £814.4 million in the financial year beginning in April.
“National Insurance has long been considered a tax on jobs. From next year Scotland will suffer a £104.3 million annual claw back into Treasury coffers, cutting resources available to front line services including the NHS, local authorities and the Police and Fire Services”.
“The UK Government is making the wrong choice by wanting to clawback £2.6 million from NHS Lanarkshire, at a time when budgets are already tight”.