The Chancellor made the “wrong choices” in her Spring Statement,
which will “short-change public services and deliver austerity”,
Finance Secretary has said.
Speaking ahead of a debate on the Spring Statement in the
Scottish Parliament today (Wednesday 2 April), Ms Robison warned
decisions made by Westminster “seek to balance the books on the
backs of disabled people” and will have a “devastating impact” on
Scotland's budget.
Ms Robison said:
“The Spring Statement was an opportunity for the UK Government to
reject the mistakes of the past and to commit to investment in
public services.
“But the Chancellor made the wrong choices, which will
short-change public services and deliver austerity, seeking to
balance the books on the backs of disabled people.
“The alarming impact assessments published by the UK Government
on its own welfare policies show in black and white the number of
people who will lose out as a direct result of these changes. We
know that 250,000 people – 50,000 of whom are children – will be
pushed into relative poverty as a result of the measures
announced by the Chancellor.
“These cuts will have a devastating impact on Scotland's Budget,
which will be compounded by the Treasury's refusal to fully fund
the additional cost of employer's National Insurance
contributions.
“The UK Government's decisions risk serious social and economic
damage – and we will continue to press them to change course.”
