THE Greens have said they are prepared to back the Scottish Budget if the SNP Government is prepared “to stretch devolution” – with the party hinting at further use of tax powers.
The Scottish Government is facing a potential problem in passing its tax and spending plans after the breakdown of the Bute House Agreement with the Greens earlier this year.
First Minister John Swinney’s administration subsequently angered the Greens by moving away from policies they favoured such as the pilot ending peak rail fares.
The Scottish Greens will use a debate in Holyrood this week to push the Scottish Government ahead of the draft budget being published on December 4, as well as stress there is more the Scottish Parliament can do to tackle the dire situation in the public finances.
The motion from Ross Greer will call for the Scottish Government to explore all avenues to fiscal sustainability, including: Further use of existing tax powers; reviewing tax reliefs and other subsidies for big business; new powers for councils such as the proposed levy on polluting cruise ships; and to ensure that spending doesn’t go towards programmes which undermine the core missions of tackling child poverty and the climate emergency.
Countering the Scottish Government’s claim to have no choice but to reintroduce peak rail fares and scrap plans for free school meals for older primary pupils, the party pointed to “tax breaks for big businesses and wealthy landowners”, and “climate-wrecking road expansion projects”.
Greer (below) said: “Scotland’s public finances are in a dire state, largely due to years of cuts from Westminster. The Scottish Government isn’t powerless though.
“Even with the limited powers of devolution we must do everything we can to protect people and planet.”
He added: “We are ready to co-operate again, if the SNP will join us in taking the bold decisions needed to tackle child poverty and the climate crisis.
“Pointing to the good work done before and blaming Westminster for the current mess, however true, just won’t cut it.
“We have shown how much good the Scottish Parliament can do when it makes brave choices.”
Meanwhile, Labour are urging the Scottish Government to reverse its decision to scrap the fuel insecurity fund.
The fund, which has been allocated no money in this year’s budget, was used to support the most vulnerable households over the winter and cost £30 million last year.
Anas Sarwar (below) said the UK Government’s decision to extend the household support fund south of the border is expected to deliver around £41m in extra cash for Holyrood – enough to pay for the fuel insecurity fund to be reinstated in his view.
It comes after the UK Government announced it would limit winter fuel payments this year to all but the poorest pensioners. This was replicated by the Scottish Government, with ministers insisting they had no choice in the matter because of a £160m funding cut.
Scottish Labour said it wanted to work with ministers to introduce a package of support for struggling families this winter.
These include proposals to deliver payments to low-income pensioners not in receipt of Pension Credit, delivering targeted grants and energy vouchers to those most in need, and a campaign to encourage the uptake of Pension Credit.
Sarwar said: “Under our plans, low-income pensioners currently ineligible for Pension Credit could receive support and the SNP’s axing of the winter insecurity fund could be reversed.
“Instead of focusing on what it can’t do rather than what it can do, the Scottish Government could work with Scottish Labour to make sure this package is delivered to support Scots.”
