Almost half of Scots think tax level does not provide value for money

Almost half of respondents to a poll have said Scotland’s taxation rate does not provide value for money.

The survey by Survation for the consultancy True North spoke to 1,024 Scots, finding 49% of respondents were unhappy with how their tax levels were being used to fund public services.

While 32% said services did represent value for money.

But First Minister John Swinney said most Scots pay less in income tax and receive more for their money.

Sandy Begbie, the chief executive of Scottish Financial Enterprise – the trade body for financial services in Scotland – welcomed the decision in the most recent budget not to increase taxes again, creating more divergence with the rest of the UK.

“We support the Scottish Government’s focus on driving economic growth and part of that should be an acceptance that you cannot tax your way to growth,” he said in response to the poll.

“Ultimately, a competitive tax landscape is key to delivering the sustainable economic growth we all want to fund better public services and drive prosperity.

“This polling is yet more evidence that the people of Scotland do not believe higher income taxes are delivering value for money.

“As the Institute for Fiscal Studies recently pointed out, higher income tax rates in Scotland have led to less rather than more money for public services, while also deterring investment and harming economic growth.

“The Scottish Government’s decision to not raise income tax rates further is welcome and supported by the vast majority of the public, and we now need a concerted effort from ministers to deliver sustainable growth and better support businesses.”

But speaking to journalists after a speech in Edinburgh on Monday, the First Minister said: “A majority of taxpayers pay less tax than they would if they were in the rest of the United Kingdom, that’s my first point.

“The second point that I would make is there’s a variety of different aspects of our public services that meet the needs of individuals that are paid for through taxation.

“Whether that’s a broad offering of early learning and childcare, whether that’s a broad offering on concessionary travel, whether that’s prescription charges that don’t carry a charge, or university tuition which does not carry any charge.”