Category: Scot Gov News

Council Tax Frozen in Scotland

All 32 local authorities across Scotland have chosen to freeze council tax following a Scottish Government commitment to compensate those who do so. Finance Secretary Kate Forbes said: “With people facing unprecedented challenges and extra pressures, now is a time to work together to provide stability and certainty.

First Minister launches Scottish National Investment Bank

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has officially launched the Scottish National Investment Bank. It will be backed by £2bn of Scottish Government funding over the next decade Scot Gov: “It will help to tackle some of the biggest challenges Scotland faces now and in years to come, delivering economic, social and environmental returns.”

Scottish Parliament rejects consent for Internal Market Bill

‘Internal Market Bill should be abandoned’ Parliament rejects consent for “deeply damaging” Bill. The Internal Market Bill should be withdrawn by the UK Government after consent for it was denied by a majority of the Scottish Parliament, Constitution Secretary Michael Russell has said.

Finance Ministers’ “deep concern” over UK Internal Market Bill

Spending proposals would “reverse devolution”. (17 Sept 2020) Finance Ministers from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have met to discuss a range of fiscal matters and voiced their collective concerns about the financial implications the UK Internal Market Bill will have on devolved governments.

UK Internal Market Bill – Scottish Government consent impossible.

The Scottish Government has said it is impossible to recommend the Scottish Parliament gives consent to the UK Government’s Internal Market bill. (8 Sept 2020) The bill, which will be published by the UK Government tomorrow, engages the Sewel Convention, and therefore the UK’s constitutional rules require the consent of Holyrood.