NEW POLL SHOWS MAJORITY WANT ALL FINANCIAL AND WELFARE DECISIONS MADE IN SCOTLAND

NEW POLL SHOWS MAJORITY WANT ALL FINANCIAL AND WELFARE DECISIONS MADE IN SCOTLAND

   

    NEW POLL SHOWS MAJORITY WANT ALL FINANCIAL AND WELFARE DECISIONS MADE IN SCOTLAND

BOOST TO SNP AT START OF CONFERENCE

As SNP delegates arrive for the start of SNP conference, a new YouGov
poll has found that a clear majority of Scots want all tax, spend and
welfare decisions to be made by the Scottish Government.

The poll found that 52% of respondents thought that the Scottish
Government should be responsible for all tax and spending decisions in
Scotland - including oil and gas tax revenue, with 35% supporting
Westminster control.

A separate question found 53% thought that the Scottish Government
would be best at deciding welfare and pensions policy for Scotland,
with 34% backing UK Government control.

The results come as a boost to the independence campaign - and a blow
to the anti-independence campaign, who have repeatedly scaremongered
on pensions and on oil revenues.

Welcoming the figures, Finance Secretary John Swinney SNP said:

"These are hugely encouraging results and show that the positive
arguments put forward by the independence campaign are winning the
support of the people of Scotland. There is a clear majority support
for the key decisions about Scotland to be taken right here in
Scotland.

”This is a big blow to the No campaign.

"Scotland is in a stronger financial position than the UK as a whole -
to the tune of £4.4 billion, or £824 per person

"And we know that Scotland spends proportionately less of its budget
on welfare and pensions than the rest of the UK.

"Only a Yes vote on 18th September 2014 will enable us to invest our
abundant resources in building the fairer and more prosperous Scotland
that we all want to see."



Notes:

Yougov/SNP (Fieldwork: 20th-22nd March 2013)
Sample size: 1105 Scottish adults

Which government do you think should be responsible for all tax and
spending decisions in Scotland, including tax revenues from oil and
gas?
The UK government               35
The Scottish government 52
Don't know           13

Which government do you think would be best at deciding welfare and
pensions policy for Scotland?
The UK government               34
The Scottish government         53
Don't know              13