Impact of Delayed UK Government Budget on Scotland

Without consulting any of the devolved parliaments, or even giving prior notice, on Wednesday the UK Labour Government announced that the Autumn Statement would take place four weeks later than last year, on 26 November.

The implications of this are very challenging, as the Scottish Fiscal Commission will be delayed on producing the fiscal forecasts that set out Scotland’s Budget parameters and the SNP Government can’t progress its own budget without knowing the tax and block grant implications of UK decisions.

Also impacted will be the Scottish Spending Review, Infrastructure Delivery Pipeline and Infrastructure Investment Plan.

It also makes it difficult for the Finance and Public Administration Committee, of which I am the Convener, to scrutinise our budget effectively.

Given these concerns, I raised this with John Swinney MSP at First Minister’s Questions yesterday.

Please see the exchange by clicking on the above graphic.