§ 25. Mr. Kennedyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will assess the impact of the recent Budget statement on the economy of Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Allan StewartThe combination of continued growth and low inflation forecast in the Budget statement is a tribute to the success of the Government's economic policy, and will have a favourable impact on the Scottish economy. I very much welcome the cuts in income tax, 505W and beneficial consequences for the whisky industry of keeping the duty on spirits unchanged. The decisions to expand the community programme and to extend the pilot schemes for the long-term unemployed are of particular importance in the fight against unemployment in Scotland.