Dundee LibDems call for Council of Economic Advisers to be given power to scrutinise public expenditure in Scotland

3.15.08pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 31st Aug 2007

Nicol Stephen MSP

Dundee LibDems today (Friday 31st August) backed calls by Scottish Liberal Democrat Leader, Nicol Stephen MSP, for the SNP First Minister to think again over his plans to ensure his Council of Economic Advisers cannot scrutinise the SNP government's spending plans.

Having received a letter from the First Minister confirming this, Mr Stephen said, "The First Minister's letter makes it plain that the Council of Economic Advisers is forbidden to look at the Spending Review.

"My call to the First Minister is to allow the Council to scrutinise the SNP government and its spending plans."

Locally, here in Dundee, Liberal Democrat City Council Group Leader, Cllr Fraser Macpherson, said, "It is incredible that the SNP government set up a Council of Economic Advisers then forbid it to scrutinise £90 billion of Scottish public spending over the next three years."

Related Link:

Take shackles off Economic Advisers.