Dave Thompson MSP

SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Dave Thompson, is today (Wednesday) welcoming a new report which highlights the positive impact the introduction of the Living Wage has had on health inequalities – and further finds that the current council tax freeze may also be helping to improve health.

The study by researchers at the Scottish Public Health Observatory (PHO) at NHS Health Scotland found that certain regulatory and tax policies could help tackle health inequalities. Dr Gerry McCartney, head of the PHO, said that in some cases “they will save lives”.

Commenting on this, Mr Thompson said: “This report provides further evidence of the strong influence that government policy can have on tackling inequality. More importantly, it finds that many of the measures being taken forward by the SNP Scottish Government are likely to have positive results.

“In particular, the report mentions the Living Wage as a policy that is having a positive impact on health. The Scottish Government introduced the Living Wage in 2011, benefitting thousands of workers covered by Scottish Government pay policy. Since then, the SNP has continued to encourage more businesses to sign up to the Living Wage.  Here in the Highlands, Teclan has been praised for being one of the first private businesses in the area to pay its staff the Living Wage.

“The report also highlights the negative impact that rising council tax charges can have on health. Under the SNP, the much detested council tax has been frozen since 2007 – which will not only save families an average of £1,200 by the end of the current Parliamentary term, but according to this report will also have a positive impact on the health of the Scottish people.

“While the Smith Commission proposals will not deliver the powers we need over welfare and job creation, the SNP Scottish Government will continue to do everything we can with the limited powers we have to tackle inequality and build a fairer and more socially-just Scotland.

“In the face of Tory cuts that hit the poorest hardest, this report shows that policies being taken forward by the SNP are helping tackle health inequalities.”