Re: Alternative funding for Scotland

On 2006-06-30 21:56:45 +0100, "Ian Smith" <ianinhoose@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> said:

"Andrew" <thecroft@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:2006063021154816807-thecroft@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
As a Scot I get very tired of all the talk of the Barnett formula as a "subsidy for the Scots". It was a formula made up to recogine the rural/urban balance of Scotland to allow an overall payment for services in Scotland, rather than funding separate Scottish regions. Similar considerations are taken into account when doling out money to the English regions but it is less obvious because they are paid separately.
THAT SAID
Maybe it IS time to reconsider the way Scotland is financed post-devolution. I, and many other Scots, would favour a radically different approach. How about if ALL revenues raised in Scotland were paid to the Scottish Parliament. Thereafter Scotland would have to "pay dues", on a strict pro-rata basis according to population, to the British Government for all services and government functions that are not devolved? Would that suit our neighbours?

Probably better to go the whole hog and declare independence. That way all revenues and expenditures are fully the responsibility of the Scots, and the country stands on its own 2 feet, as any nation of its size could do with ease.

I could run with that; it's just, having grown up in England, I do feel a sort of nostalgic affection for the idea of Britain,

.

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