CUTS WILL HIT RECOVERY, WARNS SWINNEY

By Andy Philip, Political Reporter, Press Association Scotland

Finance Secretary John Swinney warned today that cuts to spending will
undermine Scotland's economic recovery.

He spoke out before Chancellor George Osborne outlines details of the
Comprehensive Spending Review, which is expected to remove GBP83 billion
in public funding over the next four years across the UK.

The spending review - described as the biggest package of cuts since the
Second World War - will cover the years from 2011-12 to 2014-15.

Mr Swinney said: "The UK government will be judged on the decisions it
will announce today - decisions that will cut spending too deeply, too
quickly and in the wrong place.

"The Chancellor's cuts will destroy jobs, and risk economic recovery.
This is wrong for Scotland and will mean Scots paying for UK economic
mismanagement for many years to come."

The Scottish Government has turned down opposition calls to outline its
spending plans until the spending review from Westminster becomes clear.

Mr Swinney said Scotland is facing "real pressure" and called on Mr
Osborne to deliver a real-terms increase on health spending.

He added: "The UK Government must therefore confirm that it will extend
its protection of the NHS to include its capital budget.

"If it does not, the UK government will let down every person who
believed it was committed to the health service."

And he restated the SNP's drive to win full financial powers for
Holyrood, adding: "I am determined that Scotland should never be put in
the situation again of picking up the pieces from other people's
economic mismanagement."

Tory finance spokesman Derek Brownlee MSP said the Scottish Government
was already saving more than it planned and urged ministers to take
advice from his party.

"Scottish Conservatives have so far found over three-quarters of a
billion pounds of savings, which have to be made so we can protect jobs
and help the recovery. We will continue to make the case for Scotland -
it's time the SNP followed suit," he said.

Tories want to take Scottish Water out of state control and keep
prescription charges for "those who can pay", among other cash-saving
suggestions.

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