ALLAN WELCOMES SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO ISLES HEALTH SERVICES

Alasdair Allan, SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar has welcomed the Scottish Government’s draft budget announcement, after it was confirmed that health services in the islands will receive a £2.7m boost next year.

The increase will see NHS Western Isles funding increase 3.7% year on year – well above inflation.

The Finance Secretary did however highlight the risk Brexit plays to this investment, with the potential for the Scottish Government to be forced to review the budget should the UK face a ‘No Deal’ scenario.

Commenting, Alasdair Allan said:

“People across the Western Isles will welcome the significant investment in our local NHS services, with a real-term increase in spending announced in the draft budget. The Finance Secretary has boosted spending in the islands by £2.7m, bringing total health spending here to £75.7m for 2019/20.

“The SNP budget delivers for the Western Isles. The Conservatives wanted the Government to slash taxes for higher earners, which would have left a £1 billion black hole in our budget; Labour on the other hand had members on their own benches declaring their own proposals as an economically illiterate ‘shambles.’

“The Tories Brexit chaos however, presents a real and present risk to this investment. The Finance Secretary confirmed that the Scottish Government may be forced to review the budget later in 2019, if the Conservatives force us to crash out the European Union without a deal. It is imperative for our health and public services that this does not happen.”