Responding to today’s Budget announcement by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston said:
"I welcome the freeze on alcohol duty until February next year, which will provide much-needed support for drinks producers across the Highlands and Islands.
“This is a vital sector across a region that is the indisputable global home of whisky, and the ongoing freeze is an important boost for a sector which provides jobs and livelihoods in so many local communities.”
Mr Halcro Johnston also welcomed the nearly £300m of additional support made available by the Chancellor to the Scottish Government. He said:
"With an additional £295 million in Barnett consequentials from the UK Government, this budget offers an opportunity for significant public investment in Scotland.
“Unfortunately, it will be for SNP ministers in Edinburgh to determine where that money is spent and their record over 17 years of power suggests that rural Scotland, and particularly the Highlands and Islands, will miss out again”.
ENDS
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