Meeting of the Parliament 23 May 2013 : Thursday, May 23, 2013
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth (John Swinney) It was a recommendation of the fiscal commission working group that the Scottish Government should take forward a programme of work to identify and develop key economic and fiscal policy opportunities to deliver economic growth, resilience, fairness, opportunity and sustainability. Corporation tax w...
Meeting of the Parliament 23 May 2013 : Thursday, May 23, 2013
John Swinney I give Mr Bibby, after his considered question to me, these words, which are from one of his friends—I think he is one of his friends, although he may not be after I have read this quote:
“We have cut corporation tax twice and I want to go further. We will reduce the tax again when we are...
Meeting of the Parliament 23 May 2013 : Thursday, May 23, 2013
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth (John Swinney) Come on, Murdo, get on the front bench.
Finance Committee 22 May 2013 : Wednesday, May 22, 2013
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth (John Swinney) Thank you, convener. I welcome the steps that are being taken to proceed with stage 2 of the bill. We have made substantial progress on considering issues in the bill that were raised at stage 1 and in the parliamentary debate on 25 April and, as the committee will be considering those issues as we ...
Finance Committee 22 May 2013 : Wednesday, May 22, 2013
John Swinney When a lease will commence will be consistent with the rules associated with SDLT. There will be an amendment to section 30 of the bill to provide for that. I will ask my officials to clarify.
Finance Committee 22 May 2013 : Wednesday, May 22, 2013
John Swinney It sounds as if the committee has had a very fruity morning, given some of the language that has been used.
In your summary of the remarks, I am not sure whether you said that the provisions on LBTT had been described as a cut-and-paste job. I would want to reject that comment very clear...
Finance Committee 22 May 2013 : Wednesday, May 22, 2013
John Swinney That is slightly different and it is helpful to have that clarified. I assure the committee that I do not view the LBTT legislation as a cut-and-paste job.
On partnerships, what we have decided to do is to replicate the provisions on SDLT, and there will be minor amendments coming forward...
Finance Committee 22 May 2013 : Wednesday, May 22, 2013
John Swinney The Government is lodging an amendment to the bill at stage 2 that will provide us with the power to amend this area of the bill by secondary legislation. Obviously, that will be subject to scrutiny and consideration by Parliament in the usual fashion. That power will enable us, for example, to enac...
Finance Committee 22 May 2013 : Wednesday, May 22, 2013
John Swinney That is a material part of the consideration that I am undertaking. From the evidence that I have been able to discern, that is one of the factors that is a genuine issue in the marketplace. Therefore we need to ensure that opportunities to attract finance are in place to enable developers to take f...
Finance Committee 22 May 2013 : Wednesday, May 22, 2013
John Swinney Progress on the development of the necessary procedures is assessed on a regular basis to determine whether the plans are on target. The last report that I saw indicates that the work programme is being maintained, so I am confident that the preparations are in order to ensure that the necessary ope...