Swinney wants borrowing powers for Holyrood

The Scottish Government should be given the same borrowing powers as local authorities, Finance Secretary John Swinney has told a parliamentary committee.

He said the need for greater financial powers for Holyrood should be considered by the commission reviewing the Scottish Parliament's current responsibilities. The commission, set up by the opposition parties, is headed by Sir Kenneth Calman, chancellor of Glasgow University.

Swinney was giving evidence on May 27 to the Parliament's finance committee, which is conducting an inquiry into future methods of funding capital expenditure. He was being questioned specifically on the minority Scottish National Party government's plans to set up a Scottish Futures Trust to replace the Private Finance Initiative.

One of the proposals would result in councils issuing municipal...