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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Budget impact on Scotland studied | Budget impact on Scotland studied |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Savings identified by the chancellor in Wednesday's Budget statement are being studied closely by Scottish ministers. | |
| The Scottish Government believes efficiency savings will cut millions off spending plans, at a cost of 9,000 jobs north of the border. | |
| But UK ministers say the new targets of £9bn in savings a year can be achieved. | But UK ministers say the new targets of £9bn in savings a year can be achieved. |
| Meanwhile, opposition parties have attacked as "fantasy" economic growth predictions contained in Alistair Darling's Budget. | Meanwhile, opposition parties have attacked as "fantasy" economic growth predictions contained in Alistair Darling's Budget. |
| Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney has claimed the spending plans will lead to a budget cut in Scotland of just under £500m with knock-on consequences for jobs and services. | |
| KEY POINTS IN THE BUDGET 50% tax rate for earnings over £150,000Big debt and deficit increasesEconomy shrinks at record ratePublic spending squeeze plannedBooks not balanced until 20182p on fuel, 1p on a pint of beer and 7p on cigarettes£15bn public sector 'efficiency savings'Claw back tax relief on top earners' pension £2bn help for young unemployed£1bn to boost housing market£2,000 car scrappage scheme At-a-glance: Budget 2009 Analysis: Election countdown Tax rise as UK debt hits record | |
| According to the SNP, £392m will be cut next year, along with £129m lost to Scotland as a consequence of health underspending in England. | |
| The party said this would result in about a £497m cut to the Scottish budget, after taking into account an extra £24m due to come to Scotland through public spending in England. | |
| Labour challenged Mr Swinney's calculations for the efficiency savings and said the real figure was £367m. | |
| Labour finance spokesman Andy Kerr insisted the Scottish Government would have £700m more cash to spend in 2010-11. | |
| The Liberal Democrats' Alistair Carmichael described the predictions that the budget deficit would rise sharply to £175bn for the next two years as "incredibly alarming". | |
| He said: "This Budget is a short-term fix designed to get the Labour party through the next general election rather than meet the long-term needs of Scotland and the UK." | |
| The Conservatives said it was a "dishonest Budget" based on "fantasy forecasts". | |
| The chancellor said the UK economy would return to growth by the end of 2009, expanding by 3.5% in 2011. |