A PAIR of Borders parliamentarians have criticised the Scottish Government’s draft budget, arguing that it falls short of meeting the region’s needs.

Scottish finance minister Kate Forbes delivered the spending plans in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday (January 28).

But Borders MP John Lamont and MSP Rachael Hamilton – both Conservatives – believe that the draft budget does not do enough to protect businesses and jobs.

Mrs Hamilton said: "The budget does little in addressing the issues at hand as a result of COVID, and it doesn’t go nearly far enough."

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In Holyrood on Thursday, Ms Forbes, of the SNP, said: "This budget is focused on delivering tax policies that will support economic recovery and maintain our commitment to creating a fairer and more progressive tax system.

"It is about striking the right balance between raising the revenue required to fund our public services and supporting the economic recovery through targeted interventions.

“In recognition of the increasing pressures on many family budgets, I am also providing local councils with £90 million on top of their settlement of £11.6 billion to freeze the council tax.

“This will ensure that while council tax bills won’t go up, there will be no impact on vital local services.

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“Now is a time for stability, certainty and targeted support for the individuals and businesses who have been most impacted by the pandemic and our tax policy delivers this.”

Mrs Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) and Mr Lamont (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) say they welcome the reduction in the non-domestic rate (NDR) poundage rate, but they believe the three-month extension of non-domestic rates relief fails to give businesses enough stability.

They both want the Scottish Government to go further and commit to a 12-month relief package.

Ms Forbes did say that the relief may be extended if the UK Government makes a similar decision in March.

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In response to the Scottish draft budget, Mrs Hamilton said: “Businesses across the Borders are in a very difficult situation at the moment, and I do not believe the SNP’s budget addresses their core concerns.

“Some businesses haven’t received a penny and have fallen through the cracks. They still have bills to pay and are trying to stay afloat.

“There is no clear plan ahead on how we exit this crisis, and whilst there is an increase in the Local Authority Discretionary Fund, there was no guarantee that we will see grant funding reaching businesses any quicker.

“The SNP’s dithering and delays has cost jobs, cost businesses dearly and it has led to many becoming unviable.

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“My party have called for the 10-day guarantee on delivering vital funds to businesses so that they receive money in their accounts, [but] the Finance Secretary did not commit to this.

“The budget is another example of the SNP falling short, and failing to provide any new innovative ideas after 14 years in power."

Mr Lamont said: "What we needed was bold ideas to help rebuild Scotland after the pandemic. On that measure this budget fails.

"The SNP are great at announcing new funds for businesses. But we have seen over the last few months just how long it takes to get money into the coffers of struggling businesses.

"Some businesses have been shut for months now and have received no help financially. The UK Government has delivered £8.6bn in extra funds to Scotland to help businesses with COVID-19.

“There is no excuse for not getting this funding to help bolster the Scottish economy and put us all on a better footing for when we can get back to normal."