SNP councillor Gordon Murray welcomed the news that local government finance settlements will be maintained in both 2014-15 and 2015-16 at around £10.6bn. "Local government has been treated very fairly under the SNP administration"
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Between 2007-08 and 2012-13 the Scottish budget increased by 6.4% but local government’s budget increased by 8.9%.
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Between 2013-14 and 2015-16 the revenue budget under control of the Scottish Government, excluding health and local government, will increase by 0.2% in cash terms. Over the same period local government’s revenue funding will increase by 0.7% in cash terms.
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Over the period 2013-14 to 2015-16 local government’s share of total revenue funding within the Scottish Government’s control will have increased.
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This compares to an 8% cash reduction in England over the same period.
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Under the SNP, Council Tax has been frozen since 2008-09, under Labour (between 1997-98 and 2007-08) the average band D council tax rate in Scotland increased by £366 or 46.7%.
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By 2016-17 a Band D household in Scotland will have saved on average £1,682 thanks to the Council Tax freeze (SPICe, 17/05/2013).
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As a proportion of net household income, households in lower deciles are estimated to see the greatest benefit (Scottish Draft Budget, 2014-15).
The settlement provides funding to support the extension of free childcare to 600 hours.
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The 2014-15 settlement includes £81m to deliver on our commitment to fully fund the additional cost of early learning and childcare provision.
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Pending Parliamentary approval of the Children and Young People Bill, from August 2014 all three and four year olds will be eligible for up to 600 hours of childcare.
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This package of support will save the average family £707 per year per child and will benefit 120,000 children in Scotland.
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We have already increased free nursery provision by 20% since we came to power – the increase to 600 hours will represent a 45% increase since 2007.
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An SNP Government in an independent Scotland will introduce a universal system of high quality learning and childcare for children from the age of one.
Scotland’s business rates regime remains the best deal for small businesses in the UK.
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For 2014-15 the Small Business Bonus Scheme will be extended – the upper threshold for businesses with multiple properties will increase from £25,000 to £35,000 – benefiting over 4,000 extra properties.
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This is in addition to the expansion of the Fresh Start Scheme, now adopted in England,announced in November – this is being extended to include pubs, hotels and restaurants.
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The Small Business Bonus Scheme SBBS benefits a record 92,000 properties in Scotland.
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Eligible businesses in receipt of SBBS are £3,080 better off than their competitors in England.
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We will also match the 2% cap on business rate poundage announced for England and Wales in the Autumn Statement – ensuring Scottish businesses retain their competitive advantage.