Over the last year, Scottish taxpayers have had to pay an additional £219 million and Scottish businesses an extra £64 million, due to the large business rate supplement.

This is despite receiving the third highest cash increase out of all the spending areas across the UK from the UK Government.

Figures taken from the Red Book show that the Scottish Government will receive a cash boost of £1.6 billion, third only to the UK departments of Transport and Health.

The SNP has made Scotland the highest taxed part of the UK and has failed to pass on tax rises or improve public services.

The Scottish Conservative priorities for the Budget are for the SNP to drop indyref2, to help the high street, to cut Air Passenger Duty and to keep taxes competitive.

It's high time the Scottish Government stopped this divisive talk of a second independence referendum and start listening to the concerns of small businesses and all other hard working Scots forced to pay the SNP's higher tax rate.

Cllr Alastair Redman