No investigation into Scottish Government independence spending
T
he Advocate General for Scotland will not be investigating the Scottish Government’s spending on independence, the PA news company understands.
Lord Foulkes claimed within the House of Lords on Thursday Lord Stewart – the UK Government adviser on Scots Law – was wanting into points of the Scottish Government’s spending.
However, it’s understood this isn’t the case.
A spokesperson for the UK Government mentioned: “It is up to the Scottish Government how it spends its record block grant in devolved areas.
“We have been consistently clear that we think that the priority for people in Scotland is halving inflation, tackling the NHS waiting times, ensuring energy security, and growing our economy across the whole of the UK.”
In an alternate within the Lords chamber on Thursday, Lord Foulkes mentioned: “The Advocate General for Scotland has agreed, at my request, to instruct his officials to investigate ultra-vires expenditure by the Scottish Government.”
It will not be clear why Lord Foulkes believes there to be a stay investigation.
Labour peer Lord Foulkes has repeatedly raised the problem of Scottish Government spending on independence, most lately in relation to the appointment of Jamie Hepburn as minister for independence by First Minister Humza Yousaf.
The problem additionally raised the ire of Scottish Secretary Alister Jack, who wrote to the UK’s most senior civil servant Simon Case to complain.
In a Holyrood committee earlier this 12 months, the top of the civil service in Scotland – John Paul Marks – defended the appointment, saying the service “serves the Scottish Government and their priorities”.
Independence Minister Jamie Hepburn MSP mentioned: “The 2021 Scottish Parliament election returned a clear majority in favour for an independence referendum.
“Therefore there is a democratic mandate for a referendum and we are committed to giving people in Scotland the right to choose their constitutional future.
“It is the role of the Civil Service to support the elected government of the day in developing and implementing its policies. That includes with regard to constitutional reform.”