The Chancellor, George Osborne, has announced the budget for the forthcoming year. It includes measures such as raising the personal tax allowance which will take 25,000 low earners in Scotland out of tax, and benefit a further 2.2million Scots.
This is in addition to the childcare subsidy which will see parents of all under-12s get one-fifth of their childcare paid for by the government, benefitting 200,000 Scots.
The Government will cut the tax on beer by 1p a pint, freeze scotch whisky duties and most cider duties, and end the wine duty escalator. This will benefit 5,035 pubs in Scotland, including the 35,960 people employed directly in them and their customers.
The Chancellor also announced that he was cancelling the planned autumn increase in fuel duty, cutting costs for motorists.
Murdo welcomed the budget, stating that it will help thousands of hard-working residents in Perth and Kinross, Fife, Stirling and Clackmannanshire.
Murdo Fraser MSP said: “I was delighted to hear the measures announced by the Chancellor today. The lift in the personal allowance will not only ensure that the lowest paid workers no longer have to pay income tax but also ensure that other hard workers pay less tax. At a time when household budgets are stretched I know that this will come as real help to many households.
“For the distilleries in my region which include, Blair Atholl, Edradour, Aberfeldy, Glenturret and Tullibardine the news of a freeze on duty will be warmly welcomed. By freezing duty on Scotch whisky the spirit will escape the 4% per bottle rise that would have normally occurred this year.
“The increase in childcare subsidy will help reward parents for hard work as well as also encouraging other parents back to work. Everyone deserves a chance to get on and succeed in life and this measure will help to do just that."