SNP must explain VAT vote - Scott

10.08.51am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 24th Apr 2009

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott has challenged the First Minister about the SNP’s support for Labour’s VAT cut in Westminster, which has so far cost the Chancellor roughly £4billion, but the economy is still in dire straits.

Commenting, Mr Scott said:

“The SNP queued up with Labour at Westminster to vote for the short-term VAT cut.

“It hasn’t worked. Unemployment and national debt is soaring.

“The Government could have used the same money to build for the long term. They could have invested in 95,000 green jobs and public transport in the UK, which would be up to 10,000 jobs for Scotland.

“If the VAT cut is cancelled now, the Treasury would save £8.5 billion.

“If this was used for green energy and public transport, it would be worth around £800 million for Scotland.

“If the First Minister is that concerned about multimillion cuts to the Scottish Budget then he will admit that that the SNP was wrong to support the VAT cut and will throw his weight behind the Liberal Democrat campaign to abandon it and spend the money saved on a green road to recovery.”

Ends.