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SNP slams Budget attack on whisky industry

"Chancellor targets key Scottish employer"

Moray Scottish National Party MP Mr Angus Robertson has slammed today's Budget announcement by Chancellor Gordon Brown that the Government is to force through the introduction of expensive fraud-prone strip stamps on whisky bottles.

The announcement comes despite warnings about such move by the National Audit Office, Scottish Affairs Committee, Scotch Whisky Association, and Trade Unions.

Vice-Chairman of the All-Party Scotch Whisky Industry Group Angus Robertson, who represents more than half of all of Scotland's malt whisky distilleries, says that the move is "an attack on the Scotch whisky industry and everybody who works in it".

Speaking after the announcement Angus Robertson said:

"Gordon Brown has launched an attack on one of Scotland's key industries and everybody who works in it. Over 40,000 Scottish jobs are dependent on the production of Scotch Whisky, and this is a direct threat to their livelihoods.

"The Chancellor has ignored independent advice, and is treating the Whisky industry as a cash cow by targeting legitimate businesses with a damaging and expensive new burden.

"Despite detailed anti-fraud proposals made to the Treasury, the Government has cynically chosen to add costs to the industry, endangering jobs and competitiveness.

"This comes after the National Audit Office warned that fraud statistics were unreliable, and the Labour Chairman of the Scottish Affairs Committee wrote to the Treasury saying that to go ahead with the scheme 'would seem to be unduly hasty and unwise'.

"Gordon Brown has acted hastily and is unwise. Sadly the cost will be paid by the industry and workers throughout Scotland who have been unfairly targeted by the Chancellor."