Des Browne MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun Welcomes Scottish Settlement
16 October 2007
The Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock and Loudoun MP, Des Browne welcomed the Comprehensive Spending Review and Pre-Budget Report, saying that the record amounts of public money made available represented a good deal for Scotland.
Des Browne said:
“This is an unequivocally good settlement for Scotland. The Scottish Executive will be getting more money year-on-year with a total of £7.2 billion extra available to them over the three years of this spending review period. By the end of the period, the money available to the Scottish Executive will reach £29billion - more than double the 1999 figure of £14billion.
“The Chancellor’s announcement means Scotland will enjoy 1.8 per cent annual average real growth over the next three years. Resources in 2010-11 compared to 2007-08 will be £3.7 billion higher in Scotland – an impressive increase by anyone’s standard.
“This very generous settlement is in context of an overall review which has been tighter than in recent years for many Whitehall departments. Where spending has increased across other departments, it is in areas which also benefit Scotland – on counter-terrorism, and on international development.
“The Barnett formula provides Scotland with the same absolute increase per head as comparable UK departments. In addition, building on the previous multi-year deal that made £600 million End Year Flexibility available in this year alone (2007-08), the Scottish Executive can access a further £900 million End Year Flexibility over the CSR period.
“Meanwhile, Scotland continues to benefit substantially from the sustained period of continuous UK economic growth and strong employment performance. More resources have been available for front line services as a result of the Government’s success in controlling AME spending such as debt interest and social security spending.”
