• LIVINGSTONE ADDS VOICE TO CAMPAIGN AGAINST LABOUR CUTS

    23Mar

    FORMER MAYOR SPEAKS UP WHILE SCOTTISH LABOUR STAY SILENT

    Labour’s former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone has today urged Alasdair Darling and Gordon Brown not to cut the budgets of devolved administrations.

    The Scottish Government, alongside the Welsh and Northern Irish Assemblies has called on the UK Government not to introduce what would amount to £500million of cuts to Scotland’s budget.

    Asked on BBC’s Politics Show how he would approach the upcoming budget Mr Livingstone said;

    “The last thing you need to do is cut the devolved government’s budget – whether it’s London or Scotland”

    SNP MSP and Finance Committee member Joe FitzPatrick MSP welcomed Mr Livingstone’s comments;

    “It seems Ken Livingstone can stick up for Scottish investment, where Labour’s Scottish leaders will not.

    “Ken Livingstone understands what the UK Government does not – that the last thing you do in a recession is cut vital public spending by the devolved governments.

    “At a time when public sector investment is more important than ever the Chancellor’s plan to slash £500 million from Scottish spending this year and next will be deeply damaging.

    “Ken Livingstone has said the words that Iain Gray dare not speak. London Labour should listen to Livingstone and to the joint voices of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish Finance Ministers and end this ridiculous plan to slash Scotland’s spending in the face of Gordon Brown’s recession.”

  • WELSH ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE LOOKS TO BORROWING POWERS

    11Mar

    FIXED BUDGET DEVOLUTION NO ANSWER TO ECONOMIC SITUATION

    CASE OF SCOTTISH BORROWING POWERS OVERWHELMING

    SNP MSP Joe FitzPatrick – a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee – has welcomed a report from the Finance Committee of the Welsh National Assembly which calls for the extension of the power to borrow for capital investment to the Welsh Assembly Government in Cardiff.

    Mr FitzPatrick said it was yet another powerful indication that the fixed budget devolution system was an untenable system, particularly in the current economic circumstances, and that the power to borrow money for devolved bodies was essential to tackle the financial situation.

    Commenting Mr FitzPatrick said:

    “This report is welcome and highlights how the fixed budget system for devolution is untenable – particularly in these economic times.

    “The case for greater fiscal autonomy for the Scottish Parliament is now compelling with overwhelming cross-party support. What opposition there is to borrowing powers has little to no grounds to stand on. At Welsh Questions in Westminster today the Secretary of State for Wales was looking isolated on the issue.

    “As we face Labour’s recession and the threat of billion pound spending cuts, having the responsibility to manage our own budget is vital in ensuring we are able to respond swiftly and effectively to changes in economic circumstances.

    “The case for more borrowing powers is now overwhelming and there is little reason for further delay in extending this responsibility to Scotland in these troubled economic times.

    “With those powers the Scottish Government can take the right decisions to reflate the economy according to our own distinct circumstances.”

  • Dundee Industry to get Holyrood Showcase

    09Mar

    Tax breaks for Computer Games developers would boost business

    Dundee West SNP MSP Joe FitzPatrick will be hosting a showcase of the Scottish Computer Game Industry to highlight its importance ahead of a debate in the Scottish Parliament on supporting games development in Scotland.

    Mr FitzPatrick, whose Dundee Constituency is the hub of Scottish Computer game development, secured the Members Debate to highlight the need for a change to the tax regime for the development of computer games.

    At present companies pay tax on research and development which firms in other countries such as France and Canada do not face. The industry has raised concerns that this could seriously hamper the Scottish based companies who currently lead the world in computer game development.

    MSPs will be invited to see first hand the successes of the industry and will have the opportunity to try some of Scotland’s most successful games.

    The Event will be held on the 18th March at 1pm – 3pm in Committee Room 4 of the Scottish Parliament, and will be followed by the members debate at 5pm.

    Multi million selling games developers Realtime Worlds and the University of Abertay Dundee, which has recently been given Scottish Government funding for a Skillset Media Academy which will specialise in computer game education, will be amongst those putting the MSPs through their paces with the latest technology.

    Commenting Mr FitzPatrick said;

    ‘‘We have world leading computer games expertise in Scotland and I hope that by holding the showcase MSPs will appreciate how important this industry is to our future economic success.

    ’’Although the computer games industry is continuing to grow, despite the current economic climate, it is not growing as fast as elsewhere and the industry in the UK is at risk of falling behind. UK firms must pay tax on research and development activities, while in countries such as Canada and France rebates are given and this means they have a competitive advantage.

    “I have secured a members debate on this issue as it is vitally-important that these successful new industries are supported to allow them to diversify and explore new ideas and develop new games in Scotland.”

  • SNP BRING DEVELOPMENT TO DUNDEE

    06Mar

    INVESTMENT SECURES JOBS AND BRIGHT FUTURE FOR CITY

    SNP MSP Joe FitzPatrick today welcomed the announcement by Cabinet Secretary John Swinney of £33 million for investment in the Dundee Waterfront.

    The funding means the development of Dundee Central Waterfront as a new business district for the city can now go ahead. The project is expected to bring around 1000 jobs to Dundee and bring in £270 million of private sector investment.

    Joining John Swinney for the announcement in Dundee Joe FitzPatrick MSP for Dundee West said;

    “This is excellent news for Dundee and will help secure jobs and investment -not only for the city but for the wider region.

    “This is the final piece in the jigsaw for the central waterfront and I am pleased to see Dundee receiving this vital investment.

    “With exciting plans to bring the V & A to Dundee’s waterfront and proposals coming up for Dundee Port this development now has national importance.

    “Today’s announcement is another sign of the SNP Government delivering for Dundee and will help see Dundee and Scotland though difficult economic times with investment in key projects that will support 5000 jobs across Scotland.”

  • IAIN GRAY’S ALTERNATIVE TO COUNCIL TAX IS … COUNCIL TAX

    05Mar

    ATTACKS HIMSELF FOR VOTING FOR SNP BUDGET

    Commenting on Iain Gray’s speech to COSLA where he revealed Labour’s alternative to the Council Tax would be Council Tax and he attacked the SNP budget he voted for SNP MSP Joe FitzPatrick – a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee – said:

    “Iain Gray has just pinned himself in to supporting a continuation of the Council Tax. The basic principle of taxation should be based on the ability to pay not the homes people live in. Renaming and rebranding council tax will just be laughable.

    “Under Labour the unfair Council Tax increased by over 60%. It is bizarre that he thinks people will support a continuation of Labour’s tax on people’s homes.

    “As real council tax rises south of the border show Council Tax has continued to increase under Labour whilst the SNP has delivered a freeze. That stands as an example of how things could have been if Labour were still in power in Scotland.

    “Labour’s lack of answers when it comes to helping people in these hard economic times is just exemplified by Iain Gray’s unimaginative attempts to keep a Council Tax.

    “Thankfully we have an SNP Government delivering another council tax freeze for the people of Scotland and committed to freezing council tax for the next two years as well. A freeze that will help them keep more of their own money in these uncertain economic times.

    “Equally bizarre is his attack on the SNP budget – which he voted for. Perhaps he can explain why he is attacking himself for supporting that budget.”

  • COUNCIL TAX INCREASES UNDER LABOUR WHILST FROZEN IN SCOTLAND

    02Mar

    Commenting on today’s news that council tax south of the border will increase by an average of 3% compared to Scotland where it is frozen SNP MSP Joe FitzPatrick – a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee – pointed to the difference as an example of how the SNP Government is delivering for Scotland whilst Labour’s government fails south of the border.

    The figures for south of the border were revealed in a survey of councils in England by the Local Government Association.

    Commenting Mr FitzPatrick said:

    “This survey highlights Labour’s lack of answers when it comes to helping people in these hard economic times. It also stands as an example of how things could have been if Labour were still in power in Scotland.

    “Thankfully we have an SNP Government delivering another council tax freeze for the people of Scotland and to freezing council tax for the next two years as well. A freeze that will help them keep more of their own money in these uncertain economic times .

    “Since the SNP came in to Government we have seen council tax frozen after years of increases under Labour. News that it continues to rise south of the border show s a Labour government failing to meet the needs of people south of the border.

    “This survey just shows the benefits voting SNP has brought to people in Scotland and that Labour is out of touch.”

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