The Autumn Statement delivered the ‘worst case scenario’ for
Scotland’s finances and failed to live up to the challenges posed
by the cost of living and climate crises, Deputy First Minister
has said.
The statement failed to deliver the investment needed in services
and infrastructure, Ms Robison said. While welcoming the increase
in the statutory minimum wage, she said this did not go far
enough and fell well short of the Real Living Wage of £12 an hour
for 2024-25.
The Deputy First Minister said:
“Today’s Autumn Statement from the UK Government has delivered
what is the worst case scenario for Scotland’s finances. Scotland
needed a fair deal on investment for infrastructure, public
services and pay deals – the UK Government has let Scotland down
on every count.
“We needed investment in the services that people rely on and in
infrastructure vital to the economy, but the Chancellor’s actions
failed to live up to the challenges we are facing as a nation,
while not doing enough to help those on the lowest incomes. The
cut to National Insurance shows the UK Government has the wrong
priorities at the wrong time, depriving public services of vital
funding. Shockingly, the health funding announced today
represents an increase of less than 0.01% to Scotland’s health
budget in 2024-25.
“The increases to the state pension and Local Housing Allowance
are welcome, but the increase to the minimum wage falls well
short of the Real Living Wage. Some of the measures for
businesses are also positive, but they come in the face of UK
growth having been projected downwards as a result of Brexit and
the UK Government’s mismanagement of the economy.
“As global temperatures push ever higher, the Autumn Statement
was a chance to fund efforts to cut the UK’s carbon emissions –
but it did not. It’s not enough to say they support measures to
encourage more renewable energy developments and expand the UK’s
electricity grid need. It needs to be matched with funding to
actually deliver and help us meet our net zero targets.
“We will now assess the full implications of today’s statement as
we develop a Budget that meets the needs of the people of
Scotland, in line with our missions of equality, community and
opportunity.”
Background
The Scottish Budget will be announced on 19 December.
Autumn Statement -
Scottish Government priorities: Deputy First Minister statement -
gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
