Today, Scotland makes its own policy for its health service, nurseries, schools, colleges, universities, police, prisons, courts, councils, cultural institutions and in some areas of economic development. Most things of importance, really.
The Holyrood parliament is responsible for more than half of public spending in Scotland, but less than one-tenth of the tax revenues. An annual block grant from the UK government (mostly England) makes up the balance between what the Scottish government spends and what it raises in taxes. In 1999, the first year of the devolved parliament, public spending per head in Scotland was 12 per cent higher than in the UK overall, a figure that is essentially unchanged 16 years later.
In 1999, Scotland spent a higher share of its budget on health and education than England. But since the SNP took office this share has fallen below that south of the border. Spending on schools in Scotland was cut by the SNP by 5 per cent in real terms from 2010/11 to 2012/13. Health spending in England is set to increase by 6 per cent in real terms from 2009/10 to 2015/16; but in Scotland it will rise by only 1 per cent over the six-year period, as a result of SNP policy. In the second half of that period, from 2013/14 to 2015/16, health spending is expected to actually fall in Scotland; again, the policy of the SNP.
With its generous subventions from the rest of the UK, and having cut education and health, what are the SNP spending the balance on? The answer is twice as much per person on enterprise and economic development and agriculture than the UK average, three-quarters more per person on transport and approximately one-half more on “recreation, culture and religion.” (source: “Prospect” magazine, edited).
Since the best things to come out of Scotland are malt whisky and sticky toffee pudding, I suppose economic development passes muster. But religion? How’s that for a priority?
We are usually better together than apart, better cooperating than squabbling. The Scots have let their hearts rule their heads and are in no mood to listen to the facts of their less-than-competent SNP government. But who am I to judge the poor, downtrodden, destitute dears?
Fascinating article. I visited Scotland very recently, and from what I could tell, the tide of nationalism shows no signs of dying down. They seem far more concerned with being Scottish than being British. Your facts may be correct, but the SNP has emotion and passion on its side. And you have every right to judge the Scots, they’re only a tad poorer than the English, and richer than the North of England.