TEXAS SHOULD COPY SCOTLAND

Scotland's First minister, Alex Salmond, and an American politician.

Scotland now has its own parliament.

The parliament has limited powers, but it has made the Scots better off.

On 10 January 2010, we learn that Scotland now has higher wages, less poverty and less unemployment than England.

This is thanks to the Scottish National Party, and devolution.

Scotland is now the most affluent country in the UK, according to a report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. (Scotland is most affluent country in Britain - Times Online)

The report suggests Scotland has fewer families living in poverty, more people in work and higher levels of income than Wales, Northern Ireland and most English regions.

In 2008, the proportion of children in low-income households in England was 22.1%.

The figure for Scotland was 19.6%.

Since 1999 Scotland went from having the second-highest number of pensioners on low income in all 12 of the UK’s nations and regions to having the second lowest.

In a related study, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation reports that the reduction of poverty has had 'an observable impact' on the mood in poor communities, where there is now greater optimism.

At present, Scotland's oil wealth goes to the government in London.

The Scottish government says Scotland's share of public spending is lower than it should be, given the contribution of North Sea oil revenues to the Treasury.

A spokesman said: "The only fair and acceptable alternative to the current funding arrangements for Scotland is full fiscal autonomy, enabling this country to compete on a level playing field with other nations, taking decisions in our own interests and maximising the opportunities that will come with the global economic recovery."

~~

aangirfan: SCOTLAND BEATS MOST OF ENGLAND

Scotland: Andrew Roberts, MI6 and Scotland's Oil

aangirfan: THE WORLD'S RICHEST COUNTRY?