HIKES in employers’ National Insurance are “punishing” Scotland for having a larger public sector, SNP Finance Secretary Shona Robison said today. 

The remarks came ahead Ms Robison’s appearance before this week at Holyrood’s local government, housing and planning committee, and just weeks before she will put a draft Scottish Budget to the parliamentary vote.

The Labour Westminster government’s October Budget delivered £1.5 billion extra in-year cash to the Scottish Budget, and an additional £3.4bn from April.