LIB DEMS SECURE BUDGET CONCESSIONS FOR BUSINESSES, POST OFFICES AND YOUNG PEOPLE

12.00.00am GMT Mon 8th Feb 2010

Commenting on the final vote on the Scottish Government's Budget, Glasgow Liberal Democrat MSP Robert Brown said:

"The final Budget has got significant improvements from how it began.

"Liberal Democrats have led the campaign for the Scottish Government to get tough on the pay and bonuses for top public sector earners because we know it is fair to focus resources on those that need it now. As a result of Liberal Democrat action, businesses will be benefiting, the Post Office network in Scotland is supported and 7,500 people will gain training and skills places.

"Following research carried out by the Scottish Liberal Democrats, it was clear that there was a huge unmet demand for college places in Scotland, made worse by the recession. For example, South Lanarkshire College saw 4552 applications for 1275 places this year, while Cardonald College had to turn away a record 7785 applicants. This was why we placed such an emphasis on increasing opportunities for young people.

"Taken together, the four measures conceded to us mean that Liberal Democrats have not blocked the Budget. We have demonstrated that we can win practical support for young people and for our economy when the Scottish Parliament backs us.

"But there are still substantial concerns. There is still more work to take place on cutting the pay bill of those at the top in the public sector, movement on bonuses, reducing the quangos that have been created by the SNP and supporting the economy. We will continue to campaign on these but will do so from a much stronger position given our budget achievements."

"The biggest concern for me was the failure of the SNP Government to reverse its decision to cancel the Glasgow Airport Rail link which also would have brought 1300 jobs and £300 million of investment to the West of Scotland. I am at a total loss to understand why Finance Secretary John Swinney would not talk to business, to local Councils and other stakeholders or to other political parties like this. I suggested from the beginning that there should be a round table to look without preconditions at how the GARL could be delivered. In the Budget debate, I asked Mr. Swinney to consider an independent enquiry into the evidence and reasoning on the airport rail link decision, but both offers were spurned. Indeed the Scottish Government have even gone to the lengths of blocking the release of key information on the project which would have enabled the public to see the reasons for the cancellation."

Ends.