Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Seema Kennedy and Jane Ellison

Wednesday 1st March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Seema Kennedy (South Ribble) (Con)]

3. What recent discussions he had with the Scottish Government on their draft budget for 2017-18.

[The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Jane Ellison)]

As I have mentioned, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has regular engagement with the Scottish Government’s Finance Minister. They discussed matters relating to the Scottish Government’s budget for 2017-18 at a joint Exchequer committee in November, and at a Finance Ministers’ quadrilateral in February.

[Seema Kennedy]

What does my hon. Friend believe will be the consequences of the Scottish Government using their new powers for the Scottish economy to make Scotland the most highly taxed part of the United Kingdom?

[Jane Ellison]

Colleagues are rightly focused on tax and competitiveness. The increased tax powers delivered through the Scotland Act 2016 mean that the Scottish Government have responsibility for raising more of what they spend. It is for them to decide how to use those tax powers to shape Scotland’s economy, growth and jobs. I might not like their plans to make Scotland a higher-tax nation—it is up to them—but they have to explain those plans to the people they represent.