Fiona Hyslop MSP for Lothians today welcomed the result of the Scottish Parliamentary vote on the Scottish budget as a huge victory for the people of Scotland and especially for West Lothian as it secured funding to give West Lothian Council the means to freeze council tax for the third year in a row, saving £141 per family.
The budget has also secured £2 million funding to support a boiler scrappage scheme on top of the £60 million which has already been invested in the Energy Assistance Package to tackle fuel poverty in Scotland.
Welcoming the budget, Ms Hyslop said:
“In these tough times this is good news for the people of West Lothian. With many people facing Labour’s recession, this £141 is a saving that will help people in times of tighter household budgets.
“Council Tax increased by over 66% in West Lothian before the SNP came to Government and I am delighted that the SNP Government are taking the action to ensure that this unfair tax is being mitigated.
“The boiler scrappage scheme will also give a significant boost to the pensioners of West Lothian who until now have been feeling the impact of a rise in fuel expenses, indeed many have already contacted me regarding this important issue.
“These announcements will come as a welcomed sum to help families across West Lothian in the present difficult economic circumstances and I am wholly disappointed that my Labour counterpart voted against the continuing council tax freeze and against a boiler scrappage scheme for West Lothian.”