KATE Forbes has accused the Chancellor of bypassing devolution, saying that much of the big-spending announcements in yesterday’s summer statement will “not provide the Scottish Government with the funding we need to enable us to tailor an economic response that meets Scotland’s needs”.

She also accused the Chancellor of lacking ambition, saying he had spent less than half of what would be necessary to fully stimulate the economy.

The Scottish Finance Secretary said that if Rishi Sunak won’t make the proper investment, then he should give Scotland “the consequentials and the powers to do it ourselves”.

Forbes said that while there were “elements in this announcement to be welcomed”, the package overall was a “huge opportunity missed.”

She added: “It falls well short of delivering what is needed to boost the economy and protect jobs.

“There is no new capital spend, no extension to the furlough scheme for hard-hit sectors and no further support for households in financial difficulty. A half-price meal out does not help those struggling to put food on the table.

“Many of the initiatives are short-lived and do not provide long term certainty for business or households. Instead they will simply push the problems back to the end of the year when we will also have to deal with the end of the transition period with the EU.

She added: “Despite announcing new funding measures worth up to £30 billion today, most of it bypasses devolution and does not provide the Scottish Government with the funding we need to enable us to tailor an economic response that meets Scotland’s needs.

“Like all governments, we are facing huge spending pressures but we do not have the tools that others have to meet them.

“Along with the Governments of Wales and Northern Ireland, we set out a reasonable, proportionate set of new financial powers that would enable the Scottish Government to respond effectively. Regrettably, the UK Government has turned a deaf ear to those needs.”

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said the budget fell “way short of the radical investment we need in the face of a major economic crisis and spiralling unemployment”.

Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie said that while the planned job retention bonus had “positive potential” it would be “no replacement for the furlough scheme”.

There was a more positive reaction from Scottish Tory leader Jackson Carlaw.

“Yet again in this crisis the UK Government has stepped up for Scotland and put its money where its mouth is,” he said.

The party chief added: “The level of commitment and support shown by this UK Government is nothing short of astonishing.

“Now the SNP needs to do its bit to ensure Scotland doesn’t get left behind as the rest of the world gets back to business.”