MSP welcomes analysis showing Scotland is not the highest-taxed part of the United Kingdom

Gil Paterson MSP welcomed the research by Fraser of Allander Institute.

MSP Gil Paterson has welcomed research showing Scotland is not the highest taxed part of the UK.

The Fraser of Allander Institute told how differences between taxation Scotland and rUK are “marginal”, and that Scotland pays less council tax.

Additionally, the analysis published on April 10 acknowledges it has not even factored in what taxpayers get in return – such as unique benefits in Scotland like free education.

Mr Paterson said: “People in Scotland need not fear paying more tax than they would in England. Overall, the differences are negligible.

“What the research by the Fraser of Allander Institute does not take into account is what taxpayers get in return.

“In Scotland, we have: free education, free prescriptions, free care for the elderly, free childcare, free bus passes for the elderly, bedroom tax mitigation and more.
“Clearly, the people of Scotland get a lot back for the tax they pay – tax that is less than the rest of the UK.

“The desperate opposition has to stop spinning this lie, that Scotland is the highest taxed country in the UK. It is deceptive and damaging to Scotland’s competitive edge.”

ENDS

• Link to Fraser of Allander ‘Is Scotland the highest taxed part of the UK? -  https://fraserofallander.org/2017/04/10/is-scotland-the-highest-taxed-part-of-the-uk/