Can anyone say if

[Deeranged]

Just had an explanation about how Scotland pays more to Westminster than it gets back and the impeccable source is the Letters Page of The Courier. Apparently if you remove the state pension payments that are made to all Scottish pensioners from the money that Scots get from the Westminster payout you find that Scots do pay more in tax than is handed back to Scots.

It is an acceptable position to adopt because all the current pensions will be paid by Westminster and there will not be any problem with this concept.

This means that the GERS figures are correct. That the Scots do get more money back than they currently pay in. But for independence purposes all current pensions will be paid for by English Welsh and NI taxpayers.

Hope this helps the economic doubters to understand this problem. It seems to me to turn my doubt that independence might be an economic disaster into a near certainty that it will be an economic disaster.

I think the SNP should bin independence as their sole mission and just try to be a competent political party doing its best to help the Scots.

Westminster would need to give an independent Scottish government all pension and NI payments made by resident Scots. It's not Westminster's money, it's mine and yours.

[BCram]

The point I thought was that there is no fund for state pensions. The money paid today pays for the state pensions paid today. There is not enough tax paid today by Scots to pay for the pensions and benefits that today's Scots receive.

[parcbara]

Westminster would need to give an independent Scottish government all pension and NI payments made by resident Scots. It's not Westminster's money, it's mine and yours.

I don't think that is the case. There is no fund that has been contributed to. That, if it is the assumption that the SNP are making, is a very risky one for state pensioners, which will almost certainly not materialise. Same as for sterling mortgages. They absolutely would not covert from sterling to Scottish currency by assuming parity. And with regard to working folk's pay. Pubic sector workers, as an easy example, given that they are effectively paid by the Scottish government, would be paid in Scots currency. Huge danger of a devaluation of income due to the relative weakness compared to the pound. Before thinking Scots could be persuaded to support separation, these critical details have to be dealt with openly. There may be a convincing reason for supporting separation, but it certainly doesn't look like it will be an economic one. 'Self-determination' but with eye watering austerity is not an acceptable reason.

[Returnofrros]

I don't think that is the case. There is no fund that has been contributed to. That, if it is the assumption that the SNP are making, is a very risky one for state pensioners, which will almost certainly not materialise. Same as for sterling mortgages. They absolutely would not covert from sterling to Scottish currency by assuming parity. And with regard to working folk's pay. Pubic sector workers, as an easy example, given that they are effectively paid by the Scottish government, would be paid in Scots currency. Huge danger of a devaluation of income due to the relative weakness compared to the pound. Before thinking Scots could be persuaded to support separation, these critical details have to be dealt with openly. There may be a convincing reason for supporting separation, but it certainly doesn't look like it will be an economic one. 'Self-determination' but with eye watering austerity is not an acceptable reason.

Self determination to give it away to Europe

Most people of 40 it's all about the economy, there is no convincing economic argument to give these chancers (SNP) more control over our lives.......better the chancers we know in a bigger pool of people imho.

COVID terrified me what politicians cud do in a small country, NZ, Canada, Scotland, Wales......terrifying.

[Deeranged]

The point I thought was that there is no fund for state pensions. The money paid today pays for the state pensions paid today. There is not enough tax paid today by Scots to pay for the pensions and benefits that today's Scots receive.

Apologies of course you're right.

So they would be paid by NI contributions to Scottish Government.

[BCram]

Apologies of course you're right.

So they would be paid by NI contributions to Scottish Government.

Exactly. Now all we need to find out if these match up, and is this type of hypothecation appropriate. What taxes are supposed to cover benefits?

[islaydarkblue]

Exactly. Now all we need to find out if these match up, and is this type of hypothecation appropriate. What taxes are supposed to cover benefits?

I think that it is general taxation which pays for benefits.

[Returnofrros]

Exactly. Now all we need to find out if these match up, and is this type of hypothecation appropriate. What taxes are supposed to cover benefits?

The Scottish govt keep putting the date back where they become responsible for certain benefit payments because it's so expensive.

You can get Scottish adult disability payment if you have a limp and severe case of dandruff, completely unsustainable.

They know all this would have to go and the nicey nicey version of DWP in Scotland would change overnight.

[parcbara]

Self determination to give it away to Europe

Most people of 40 it's all about the economy, there is no convincing economic argument to give these chancers (SNP) more control over our lives.......better the chancers we know in a bigger pool of people imho.

COVID terrified me what politicians cud do in a small country, NZ, Canada, Scotland, Wales......terrifying.

Any Scot with any debt responsibility would concur with that, I would imagine.

[islaydarkblue]

The Scottish govt keep putting the date back where they become responsible for certain benefit payments because it's so expensive.

You can get Scottish adult disability payment if you have a limp and severe case of dandruff, completely unsustainable.

They know all this would have to go and the nicey nicey version of DWP in Scotland would change overnight.

These are typical Scottish Government tactics.
They like to complain about being denied powers by Westminster but when they get them they will not use them because they are too expensive to use.
This is another case of them being a ‘wee pretendy Parliament’.