Halcro Johnston welcomes UK budget impact for Orkney and Shetland
Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston has welcomed this year’s UK budget announcement from the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Orkney and Shetland will benefit from a range of measures, including action on fuel prices, a freeze on duty for Scotch whisky and additional help for North Sea oil decommissioning, building on the existing package of support the industry has received from the UK Government.
Jamie Halcro Johnston said:
“This budget includes a number of excellent announcements for Orkney and Shetland.
“The extension of the fuel duty rebate scheme will mean that islanders continue to benefit from the scheme until 2023. This is on top of the news that fuel duty has also been frozen for the eighth year in a row.
“The Scotch whisky industry has welcomed a freeze in the duty paid on spirits, a vote of confidence in our island distilleries. This is an industry which is thriving in our islands.
“People will benefit directly from more money in their pockets with an increase in the income tax personal allowance while workers on the National Living Wage will get a pay rise equivalent to £600 a year someone working full-time.
“An additional £2 billion will also flow to the Scottish Government to spend on devolved services, underlining that there is no need for additional tax rises in Scotland. I intend to hold Ministers to this point in advance of the Scottish Government’s own budget in December.”