SNP MSP Bob Doris said: "We are all going to have to pay for Labour’s recession one way or another but this is entirely the wrong approach. This will hit public sector organisations across the board, and Glasgow frontline services are going to be hammered.

"The Scottish Government has protected the Scottish NHS budget in the face of Labour opposition despite swingeing cuts already coming to Scotland through the block grant. Now the UK Labour Government are going to rob Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board of £9.2 million. Even the Labour party can’t spin this one – this extra burden is going to mean frontline cuts.

"Glasgow needs a Government that supports the city. We have that in the SNP Government at Holyrood, but so much good work is undone by reckless decisions taken at 11 Downing Street.

"The hallmark of Labour's 12 years in power is astronomical waste in every government department. They could cut a number of other government budgets before thumping our hard pressed public services with an extra tax burden."

Note:

Costs of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s decision to increase employers’ national insurance contributions by 1% (being 2 increases of 0.5%) by 2011 for Glasgow.

Local Authority - Glasgow City Council – £6.6m

Health Board - NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde - £9.2m

• NHS 24  0.3 NHS Education for Scotland - £0.1m
• NHS Health Scotland - £0.1m
• NHS National Services Scotland - £0.9m
• NHS Quality Improvement Scotland - £0.1m
• National Waiting Times Centre - £0.3m
• Scottish Ambulance Service - £1.3m
• The State Hospitals Board for Scotland - £0.2m