Autumn Statement Awards Scotland Extra £433m

Autumn Statement

First Posted: 29/11/11 17:16 Updated: 29/11/11 17:16   PA

Spending decisions in Chancellor George Osborne's Autumn Statement will deliver almost £433 million extra to Scotland.

The money will be delivered over four years to help the Scottish Government deliver capital projects, the UK Government's Scotland Office said.

Other measures identified in Mr Osborne's statement include the offer of £50 million to safeguard the future of cross-border sleeper train services.

Scottish Secretary Michael Moore, a Liberal Democrat MP in David Cameron's Government, said: "The measures announced by the UK Government today provide real help for Scotland at a time when parts of Europe are facing real crisis.

"In tough economic times the UK is keeping the confidence of the markets, keeping mortgage rates down and finding ways to invest more in Scotland. This clearly demonstrates the benefits to Scotland of being part of the UK.

"The job of growing our economy falls to Scotland's two governments. The UK has announced wide-ranging measures to help Scottish companies access credit, to delay increases in fuel duty and to help the young unemployed in Scotland.

"We are also investing in broadband and increasing the state pension. This is just some of what we are doing to help Scotland. We have also provided an extra £433 million to the Scottish Government so that they can invest in capital projects in Scotland.

"This is new money that Holyrood was not accounting for so I am sure it will be welcomed. If it is used wisely then it can make a significant impact in growing Scotland's economy in the years to come."

The extra money is being allocated through the Barnett formula, which calculates how money is spread from Westminster around devolved administrations. The nominal figures are £50 million for 2011-12, followed by £68.3 million, £141.9 million and £172.3 million in subsequent years, totalling £432.5 million.

Separately, Mr Moore said Scotland will benefit from investment in broadband, particularly in rural areas. Edinburgh will become one of 10 "UK superconnected cities", he said.

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Spending decisions in Chancellor George Osborne's Autumn Statement will deliver almost £433 million extra to Scotland. The money will be delivered over four years to help the Scottish Government d...
Spending decisions in Chancellor George Osborne's Autumn Statement will deliver almost £433 million extra to Scotland. The money will be delivered over four years to help the Scottish Government d...
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Roy Fowler
I try....I really do!
10:22 on 30/11/2011
The Scots already have the benefits of Free eye tests and Free University places with NO fees; and now an "extra" £433 Million is "found" to pour into the Scottish pot of social happiness.......Makes you wonder why one part of the UK should have access to Free services and Free further Education yet the majority Taxpayer (the English) are yet still expected to dig deep and pay for?
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23:59 on 01/12/2011
Those "extra" millions aren't actually "extra" at all. They represent Scotlands share of the "extra" money that has been brought forward to allegedly stimulate the UK economy by way of advancing capital spending on infrastructure projects.

Scotland's allegedly free education and health provisions isn't actually free either. They are paid for from the Scottish government's budget which is paid for (and then some) by Scotland's contributions to the UK treasury. If you want those provisions to be made in England, you need to talk to your own politicians rather than criticising ours. The SNP doesn't run England.
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Vapula
Failure is not an option
07:37 on 30/11/2011
Time to get rid of Scotland. Do they really think that England would miss them? We could get rid of Ferguson and politicians who do not have England as their priority. What we really need is not a Scottish national party but an English National Party. We need to get rid of these hangers on. We should stop subsidizing them and supporting them because they are not our friends and take every opportunity to make that clear.
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00:10 on 02/12/2011
We'd like to think England wouldn't miss us. Its not like we're thinking of towing the country off to some warmer climes or anything.

Which Ferguson do you want rid of? Sir Alex?

You do need a political party which will sanely represent England's aspirations. Westminster is doing you no favours at all.

The hangers on aren't in Scotland. We contribute a higher percentage to the UK treasury than we receive in UK spending. This is a fact, not a malicious rumour which is what you recounted in your post. You do not subsidise Scotland. Scotland subsidises the Union and receives little by way of thanks from anyone for it. You should stop whinging and start acting. Start your ENP and work for England. Right now, the best political friends you have are the SNP.

http://sco­tland.gov.­uk/Topics/­Statistics­/Browse/Ec­onomy/GERS

Some facts for you about subsidies.
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00:17 on 02/12/2011
That link doesn't seem to work. Try this one instead... same document.

http://scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/06/21144516/0