"What I'd like to see in the Budget" - Bruce

12.01.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 20th Mar 2007

Pressure is on Gordon Brown to deliver a Budget that is fairer for ordinary Scots

Gordon MP Malcolm Bruce has stated what he is looking for in anticipation of the Budget statement for 2007 (Wednesday 21st March).

They are:

• Green taxes - taxing polluters and changing behaviour to protect Scotland's environment - offset by a cut in income tax

• A stable tax regime for the North Sea

• Tax credits - a simplified system of fixed rewards re-assessed every 6 months, helping the 190,000 Scots families losing

out because of the bureaucracy of the current system

• Fiscal federalism - opening a dialogue with the Scottish Parliament over the transfer of fiscal powers

• Pensions - resorting the earnings link by 2008, 4 years ahead of the Government's current timetable and two ahead of

the recommendations of the Turner report.

• A cut in fuel duty for remote and rural areas, to protect people for whom driving is a necessity.

• Continuing the freeze on spirits duty.

Mr Bruce said:

"In what is likely to be Gordon Brown's last Budget as Chancellor, I want to see a Budget that is fair for all Scottish people. The magic words "reduce CO2 emissions" must not be used to justify delving into the purses of ordinary families. We need greener and fairer taxes, not higher taxes.

"In his pre-budget statement in November, I was disappointed by Mr Brown's refusal to offer further assistance to pensioners with winter fuel bills. This time I call on him to follow the Turner recommendations and bring forward plans to restore the earnings link to pensions to give pensioners a fairer deal."