David Cameron has accused the SNP of repeatedly seeking to “invent a grievance” before it exists.
The Prime Minister took aim at Westminster’s third largest party after he was pressured to ensure Scotland receives its fair share of cash from the UK Government’s apprenticeship levy, which will force larger employers to fund apprenticeships from 2017.
Speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions, SNP MP Callum McCaig (Aberdeen South) told Mr Cameron: “The Scottish Government has estimated that the apprenticeship levy introduced by the Chancellor in the July Budget will raise £391 million from Scotland with £146 million coming from the public sector.
“As yet, there’s been no confirmation that a single penny of that will come to Scotland to fund our distinct, modern apprenticeship programme.
“Will you confirm today that Scotland will receive our fair share of this funding or are we seeing another pig in a poke from this supposed one nation Government?”
Mr Cameron replied: “We haven’t set the rate of the apprenticeship levy or indeed set what the level of business size has to be before it starts paying it.
“But the guarantee I can give you is Scotland will be treated fairly, will get its full and fair share of any apprenticeship levy.
“But as ever with the SNP, they invent a grievance before it even exists.”