HC Deb 02 May 1974 vol 872 c1311
16. Mrs. Winifred Ewing

asked the chancellor of the Exchequer if he will in future present a separate Scottish Budget.

Mr. Healey

No, Sir. The Budget is properly concerned with the development of the United Kingdom economy as a whole.

Mrs. Ewing

In that event, will the Chancellor explain why the previous Labour Government took the trouble to introduce a Scottish Budget—at least, that is what it was called? Will the right hon. Gentleman comment on the absence of Scottish financial statistics, about which we have had an admission today? Does he say that one can plan for Scotland's economy without such statistics? If so, will he explain how one can have planning without the basic information on which to base the plans?

Mr. Healey

The last Labour Government published a "Scottish Budget" in 1969 which was based on the best statistics available for 1967–68, but it was rightly criticised on the ground that although it is possible to assemble accurate and detailed statistics on expenditure in Scotland—indeed, that is done every year in the public expenditure White Paper—it is not possible to do it for revenue, for the reason which my hon. Friend the Chief Secretary gave a moment ago, namely, that it is not possible to discover what part of a company's profits derives from activities in Scotland if it has activities in other parts of the United Kingdom.

Mrs. Ewing

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the Chancellor's unsatisfactory reply to my Question, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.