Summary
BY the time of the next Holyrood elections in May 2007, the First Minister of Scotland will have twice as much money to spend as his counterpart, then the Secretary of State, had ten years ago. Then, the Scottish block grant stood at Pounds 12.9billion. In 2007 it will be Pounds 25.5billion. Admittedly, inflation has to be taken into account but inflation has been low over the past decade.
Perhaps even more remarkable is the speed of the surge. Henry McLeish as First Minister in 2001 had Pounds 14.7billion to play with. This year Jack McConnell has Pounds 21.3billion and the sum available is rising fast.See the full content of this document
Extract
A Windfall That Won't Give Value for Money
That's only the block grant from Westminster.
There is also money from our bloated business rates.If you add in the money coming directly from Westminster in social security payments, public spending in Scotland is alread...See the full content of this document
Sponsored links
