Scotland finance minister demands tax-raising answers
John Swinney pressuring Westminster about the costs of a new tax-raising system
SCOTLAND’S FINANCE SECRETARY has demanded that the government addresses questions about the Scottish parliament’s tax-raising powers.
John Swinney wants to know more about the costs of a new IT system, due to be set out in the new Scotland Bill, the BBC reported.
Swinney came under pressure himself from Scottish ministers who demanded to know why the country had lost the ability to raise or lower income tax by 3p, known as the Scottish Variable Rate.
The Scottish government told UK ministers in August it was not going to pay HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) £7m to work on the IT system which would allow the SVR to be used after May’s election.
(Picture of John Swinney © Crown Copyright/Scottish Government via Flickr)