Budget figures worrying and over optimistic - says Thurso

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sun 26th Apr 2009

"This was a budget of gimmicks and gambles that failed to deliver an honest view of the extent of the recession or offer real help to people in the North.

"The Chancellor has once again played around with tax credits and other gimmicks when he should have taken this golden opportunity to give real help to those on modest incomes by raising tax thresholds. Instead, he has punished them with higher fuel tax.

"For business, there was nothing to say how he will get the banks to put some of the massive sums they have been given to work in local businesses.

"I was also very disappointed that the green section had nothing on marine energy but concentrated solely on offshore wind."

John is a member of the Treasury Select Committee which is issuing three reports this year on the banking crisis. The Chancellor Alastair Darling will also be appearing before the Committee on Wednesday and John vowed to put these concerns to him in person.

Far north MSP, Jamie Stone was keen to make sure that a portion of the money set for investment in renewable energy did make its way to the far north.

"The Chancellor has announced large-scale additional funding for renewable energy, including offshore wind and tidal.

"We all, including the Scottish Government, must move right now to ensure that a large portion of this money comes to the Far North.

"If we are to see things really happen in the Pentland Firth - and more offshore wind turbines similar to the two we can see off the east coast of Caithness and Sutherland - then we must have the necessary funding. The Chancellor's announcement is an opportunity that we must grab."