"Council condemns the recent decision by the Conservative Government in Westminster to increase National Insurance – yet again breaking another manifesto promise. This move will see NI increasing by over 10%, impacting on those on lower wages while protecting the most well-off in society.
Council also notes that the Prime Minister has ‘directed’ how any income from this increase is to be spent in Scotland, clearly breaching the key principles of devolution. It is not for any Prime Minister or politician in Westminster to determine how the Scottish Government and Parliament decides to spend its block grant. By doing so the Conservative Government has put the future of devolution in doubt.
Council will contact both the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer to request that they scrap this increase in the National Insurance, and if it continues to go ahead, remove any conditions attached to this funding so that the Scottish Government and Parliament are free to use the funds as they see fit."
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There was submitted a Notice of Motion by Councillors K MacLaren and Mylet in the following terms:
"Council condemns the recent decision by the Conservative Government in Westminster to increase National Insurance – yet again breaking another manifesto promise. This move will see NI increasing by over 10%, impacting on those on lower wages while protecting the most well-off in society.
Council also notes that the Prime Minister has ‘directed’ how any income from this increase is to be spent in Scotland, clearly breaching the key principles of devolution. It is not for any Prime Minister or politician in Westminster to determine how the Scottish Government and Parliament decides to spend its block grant. By doing so the Conservative Government has put the future of devolution in doubt.
Council will contact both the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer to request that they scrap this increase in the National Insurance, and if it continues to go ahead, remove any conditions attached to this funding so that the Scottish Government and Parliament are free to use the funds as they see fit."
Councillor Mylet, seconded by Councillor Paterson, then moved the motion.
Councillor Graham, seconded by Councillor McIntyre, moved as an amendment that:
“Replace whole text with:
National Insurance (NI) contributions will rise by 1.25% from next April to tackle the NHS backlog and from 2023 fund our social care system via the Health and Social Care Levy
Council recognises the strain that the NHS and our social care system has been placed under fighting the covid 19 pandemic over and above the existing challenges of an ageing population.
With the cancellations and delays to existing treatments and surgeries the Council welcomes the additional funding to clear the backlog.
Council also welcomes the additional £2.2billion that Health services in the devolved nations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland per year.”
On the roll being called, the following members voted for the amendment: Councillors Begg, Binks, Graham, Kerr, James MacLaren, McIntyre, and Strang.
The following members voted for the motion: Councillors Adam-McGregor, Bibby, Brown, Burns, J Cameron, Provost Cameron, Councillors Campbell, Davidson, Devine, Devine-Kennedy, Andy Doig, Audrey Doig, Grady, Harte, Hood, Hughes, McCartin, McCulloch, McEwan, McGurk, McNaughtan, Montgomery, Mylet, Nicolson, Paterson, Rodden, Sharkey, Shaw, Sheridan, and Steel.
7 members having voted for the amendment and 30 members having voted for the motion, the motion was accordingly declared carried.
DECIDED: Council condemns the recent decision by the Conservative Government in Westminster to increase National Insurance – yet again breaking another manifesto promise. This move will see NI increasing by over 10%, impacting on those on lower wages while protecting the most well-off in society.
Council also notes that the Prime Minister has ‘directed’ how any income from this increase is to be spent in Scotland, clearly breaching the key principles of devolution. It is not for any Prime Minister or politician in Westminster to determine how the Scottish Government and Parliament decides to spend its block grant. By doing so the Conservative Government has put the future of devolution in doubt.
Council will contact both the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer to request that they scrap this increase in the National Insurance, and if it continues to go ahead, remove any conditions attached to this funding so that the Scottish Government and Parliament are free to use the funds as they see fit.