Scottish Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Children and Young People, Liam McArthur MSP has today urged the Scottish Government to heed comments made by the new head of Scotland's Save the Children. In an interview with Holyrood Magazine, Neil Mathers said he supported Scottish Liberal Democrat calls to extend free childcare to forty percent of two year olds, beginning with those from poorer backgrounds.
Orkney MSP Liam McArthur has used a debate on ferries in the Scottish Parliament today to criticise the Scottish Government's approach to Road Equivalent Tariff. He also highlighted the need for lessons to be learned from the recent problems on the Stromness-Scrabster route.
"The Scottish Government should now set a clear timetable for the introduction of equal marriage into Scottish law so that gay people in Scotland can enjoy the same rights as those in the rest of the UK."
Since taking the decision to serve in the national interest in a Coalition government, we have had to make some difficult decisions. But we can still make life fairer, and that's what Liberal Democrats in government are doing for Scotland.
Since 2012, Liberal Democrats have delivered £600 income tax cut to every basic rate taxpayer. That is over 2 million Scottish workers with more money in their pockets thanks to Liberal Democrat action in government.
And we won’t stop there - our ambition is a country where no one pays any income tax on the first £10,000 they earn.
Across the UK, we have raised 2 million people out of paying income tax altogether. From April 2013, 183,000 Scots no pay no tax at all, a real help during tough times.
And we’re ensuring the rich pay their fair share by closing tax loopholes and introducing a Tycoon Tax so that those with the broadest shoulders pay the most.
Liberal Democrats are cleaning up the mess that Labour left behind, stopping the Tories doing their worst and delivering real benefits for people across Scotland.
1. INCOME TAX CUTS
Across the UK, we have raised 2.2 million people out of paying income tax altogether. 183,000 Scots now pay no tax at all and another 2 million have a been given a £600 tax cut - real help during tough times.
2. RICHEST PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE
Successfully blocked Tory plans to cut inheritance tax and ensured that for every £1 in income tax cuts the Tories want to give the richest, £5 is being taken back through other taxes on the wealthy.
In this Parliament under the Coalition, a millionaire will pay £381,000 more tax on their income than they did under Labour in the last Parliament.
3. THE UK YOUTH CONTRACT
Extra help for young people to get back to work by providing up to 40,000 work placements in Scotland.
4. SUPPORT FOR BUSINESS
Irvine, Nigg and Dundee are to benefit from special enterprise zone status that Scottish Government figures suggest could deliver more than 4,000 new jobs.
Scotland’s 319,000 Small and Medium Enterprises will benefit from a significant increase in the Annual Investment Allowance from £25,000 to £250,000 for two years covering investment in qualifying plant and machinery from January 2013.
5. BIG INCREASES IN THE STATE PENSION
No more insulting 75p increases that we saw under Labour. By restoring the link between pensions and earnings Liberal Democrats have ensured that over 1 million Scottish pensioners will be on average £15,000 better off over the course of their retirement.
6. FOSSIL FUEL LEVY
Liberal Democrats in government have invested over £100 million in Scotland through the fossil fuel levy so we can tap into Scotland’s unrivalled renewable energy potential.
7. GREEN INVESTMENT BANK
The Green Investment Bank, with its headquarters in Edinburgh, is now open for business. It will invest £3 billion in green energy projects.
8. REFORMING THE BANKS
Liberal Democrats are reforming the banks so that the kind of casino banking we saw under Labour can never happen again. We are raising £2.5billion a year through the banking levy to ensure the banks are paying taxpayers back for bailing them out.
9. THE FREEDOM BILL
Liberal Democrats are restoring many of the civil liberties taken away by Labour. We have cut the maximum period of detention without trial to 14 days, cancelled the ID card project and are ending child detention at Dungavel.
10. PROTECTING POST OFFICES
Labour closed over 7000 post offices while in power. Liberal Democrats are delivering a £1.34billion investment to provide a secure future for our Post Office Network.
@ScotLibDems
WillieRennieLibDem
