Prescription Charges
The Barnett Formula, which was devised in 1978 to undermine support for the Scottish National Party, is grossly unfair to England. One manifestation of this unfairness is the scandalous situation we have with regard to prescription charges, whereby only patients in England that have to pay these. People in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are exempt. The Barnett Formula was justified on the grounds that there needed to be 20% higher expenditure in Scotland in order to bring its public services up to the standard in England. The allocation of funds was to be based on relative need. There has been no assessment of need since 1976. In 1997 Scotland was the third richest region in the UK with a provision of public services that far exceeded those available in many parts of England. The formula is clearly a political expedient and not based on a proper assessment of need. Many parts of England are more deserving of special funding than is Scotland. The Barnett Formula should be ended immediately and a new scheme devised that would both direct resources to those parts of England which are in greatest need and raise standards generally. It can be seen that solutions like the one proposed by the Conservative Party, known as 'English votes on English laws', will neither redress the unfair treatment of the people of England nor help produce a coherent constitutional settlement. It is a completely inadequate response to the problems outlined above. A remedy must address much more than who votes for what. It needs to consider who initiates policy and who has a mandate to do so. The Conservative Party has so far been unable to offer a sensible solution to the problem because it is obsessed by the need to preserve the Union at whatever the cost to England. That obsession is a weakness which Scottish politicians in Scotland, in Westminster, and in government, are able to take advantage of. The Labour Party are enthusiastic about a Scottish Parliament and the preservation of Scottish identity. A more pressing reason for the creation of a Scottish Parliament was their concern to preserve the dominant position of the Labour Party in Scotland. In doing that they feel no guilt about giving preferential treatment to Scotland. They clearly have little empathy with the English or their interests. The Liberal Democrats, despite their frequently expressed concerns for democracy and fairness, are opposed to putting those ideals into effect by allowing the people of England to have a parliament of their own. In 1996/7, total expenditure per head of population on services in Scotland was 24% higher than in England. That figure is for all public service and welfare spending, including that on social security. If we look at spending in those policy areas which have been devolved to Scotland, it can be seen that spending is on average 31% per person higher in Scotland than in England. Spending in Scotland on health and personal social services was 22% higher; education 31% higher; transport 31% higher; trade, industry, energy and employment 55% higher; housing 87% higher; agriculture 123% higher. This additional funding for Scotland under the Barnett Formula amounts to £12 billion each year. This unjustified and unfair institutionalised discrimination against the people of England will not end until they make their displeasure known. One way of doing that is to join and vote for the ENGLISH DEMOCRATS. Other Policies
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