Scotland Office drop the ball on whisky tax hike

Speaking at the Delegated Legislation Committee set up to the deal with the Statutory Instrument on Spirits Duty, Westminster SNP leader Angus Robertson told the London-based Scotland Office that they had "dropped the ball" on a key issue for Scotland's economy. He said the Scotland Office "preferred to issue press releases attacking the Scottish Government than delivering the best policies for Scotland".

In 2008, the UK Government announced the biggest duty rises on whisky in nearly 40 years. Following the Pre-Budget Report and subsequent outcry by the Scotch Whisky industry and the SNP, the UK Government announced a u-turn on its plans.

The meeting of the Delegated Legislation Committee dealt with the Statutory Instrument on Spirits Duty.

Mr Robertson, whose Moray constituency contains more than half of Scotland's Malt whisky distilleries, told the Committee:

"In a harebrained scheme, the UK Government planned the biggest tax increase on one of our key industries in nearly 40 years.

"This must have been approved by the Secretary of State for Scotland in Cabinet and in advance discussions with the Treasury or it was overlooked - either way the Scotland Office dropped the ball.

"Sadly, Secretary of State Jim Murphy prefers to issue press releases attacking the Scottish Government rather than delivering the best policies for Scotland.

"This is a classic example of failing to deliver when it is actually his responsibility. I hope in future he will stand up for Scotland in the Cabinet rather than be the UK Cabinet's man in Scotland."