Council leaders in Scotland have called on the UK Government to cover the extra costs the public and charity sectors are facing from the rise in employer’s national insurance.
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) and the Scottish Government have written to the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, ‘expressing concerns’ about the impact of the national insurance hike.
COSLA president, Cllr Shona Morrison, commented: ‘While we expect the direct costs to councils to be met in full, we also expect UK and Scottish Government to help us ensure that vital services provided by the third sector and others are protected from the increase.
‘COSLA’s stated view is that it would be unacceptable for Scottish councils to be made to meet the bill and we will continue over the coming weeks to work constructively with both governments on this.’