Moray MP Douglas Ross has helped secure a positive deal for Moray in the budget. As well as announcing plans to freeze spirit duty which have been widely welcomed by the whisky industry, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond also made reference to the Moray Growth Deal - a significant announcement in this key Parliamentary occasion.
Douglas said: “I am delighted that the Chancellor will not be increasing tax on spirits which is an extremely positive boost and vital for the whisky industry in Moray and something I have been campaigning on ever since I became Moray’s MP last year. The last few months have seen a significant effort by myself and other Scottish Conservative MPs to get this message across to the Treasury and I’m glad they have listened.
“Moray is home to more distilleries than any other part of Scotland and previous duty freezes have given the industry confidence to invest. The announcement in the budget that the freeze will continue means the whisky industry can continue to go from strength to strength.”
In recent months Douglas hosted visits from Treasury ministers Liz Truss MP and Robert Jenrick MP to distilleries in Moray as part of his successful campaign to persuade senior ministers to continue last year’s decision to freeze whisky duty.
“When I was elected I said that I would use all my influence as a member of the governing party to secure a good deal for Moray. I was very pleased that both Liz and Robert came up to Moray to hear how important this industry is to our local economy and the result of our efforts has been this positive decision by the Chancellor.”
Douglas said that the Chancellor’s reference to the Moray Growth Deal in his speech was also excellent news for Moray.
“I’m sure that the partners working on the Moray Growth Deal were delighted to hear the Chancellor mention the UK Government’s support for the deal in his speech. Scottish Office ministers David Mundell and Lord Duncan have both been in Moray to express their support for the Growth Deal and it is clear that the UK Government recognises how important it is for our part of Scotland.
Commenting on increased funding for Universal Credit, Douglas said:
“The budget also recognised the concerns that have been raised about Universal Credit and the Chancellor announced significant investment to aid transition and a substantial increase in the work allowance.”
Douglas concluded by saying:
“The SNP Finance Secretary was calling for more money for Scotland and this budget delivers for Scotland. We now need the SNP Scottish budget later in the year to deliver for Moray in the same way.”