Press Release
Response to the Scottish Government's Programme for Government
05 September 2023
05 September 2023
Commenting on the Programme for Government, Future Economy Scotland Co-Director Miriam Brett said:
“The stark, intertwined challenges facing Scotland’s economy necessitate bold action from the Scottish Government and today’s Programme for Government includes a number of encouraging new developments.
"If harnessed effectively, the Scottish Government's commitment to develop a green industrial strategy offers an opportunity to align Scotland’s industrial base and labour market with a just transition, as well as enhance the Fair Work agenda.
“The decision to expand child care will help alleviate the financial strain facing households, and particularly women, as they struggle with the cost of living crisis. The introduction of long-term rent controls is also welcome, and if the policy is carefully designed and modelled on international examples of best practice, it could go far in alleviating rising rents.
"Such measures, together with existing commitments like land reform and community wealth building mark progress towards achieving a greener, more equitable economy. However, any efforts to cut areas of corporation tax would be missguided. UK corporation tax is already comparatively low after being repeatedly slashed in recent decades and evidence shows that corporate tax cuts are ineffective at achieving long-term investment.
"The Scottish Fiscal Commission has warned that the Scottish Government faces a £1.9bn shortfall for day-to-day spending over the next four years. To protect public services, the Scottish Government should instead advance progressive taxation – including overhauling the taxation of land and property.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
[1] Future Economy Scotland is a new non-partisan think tank that aims to create a new economy that is democratic, sustainable and just. The organisation does not have a formal stance on Scotland’s constitutional future, and is not aligned to any political party or any politician. The organisation is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee operating with charitable principles. For more information, visit: www.futureeconomy.scot
[2] To book an interview with a spokesperson, or for any other questions, please contact press@futureeconomy.scot or call 07428192437.
[3] The Scottish Government has set out a bold ambition to deliver a just transition to net zero by 2045. Over the next two years, Future Economy Scotland will undertake a major research project that aims to develop bold but credible policies to achieve this goal. As the first output in the project, this paper outlines the challenges and opportunities associated with delivering a just transition in Scotland, and sets out the scope of work we will undertake over the next two years.
"If harnessed effectively, the Scottish Government's commitment to develop a green industrial strategy offers an opportunity to align Scotland’s industrial base and labour market with a just transition, as well as enhance the Fair Work agenda.
“The decision to expand child care will help alleviate the financial strain facing households, and particularly women, as they struggle with the cost of living crisis. The introduction of long-term rent controls is also welcome, and if the policy is carefully designed and modelled on international examples of best practice, it could go far in alleviating rising rents.
"Such measures, together with existing commitments like land reform and community wealth building mark progress towards achieving a greener, more equitable economy. However, any efforts to cut areas of corporation tax would be missguided. UK corporation tax is already comparatively low after being repeatedly slashed in recent decades and evidence shows that corporate tax cuts are ineffective at achieving long-term investment.
"The Scottish Fiscal Commission has warned that the Scottish Government faces a £1.9bn shortfall for day-to-day spending over the next four years. To protect public services, the Scottish Government should instead advance progressive taxation – including overhauling the taxation of land and property.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
[1] Future Economy Scotland is a new non-partisan think tank that aims to create a new economy that is democratic, sustainable and just. The organisation does not have a formal stance on Scotland’s constitutional future, and is not aligned to any political party or any politician. The organisation is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee operating with charitable principles. For more information, visit: www.futureeconomy.scot
[2] To book an interview with a spokesperson, or for any other questions, please contact press@futureeconomy.scot or call 07428192437.
[3] The Scottish Government has set out a bold ambition to deliver a just transition to net zero by 2045. Over the next two years, Future Economy Scotland will undertake a major research project that aims to develop bold but credible policies to achieve this goal. As the first output in the project, this paper outlines the challenges and opportunities associated with delivering a just transition in Scotland, and sets out the scope of work we will undertake over the next two years.