PLANS to introduce a new tax on workplace parking spaces have been condemned as a "complete mess" as it emerged public sector workers may be exempted.
The Scottish Tories accused ministers of trying to "sneak" a new levy through Holyrood without any consultation or preparation.
It came as a spokesman for Nicola Sturgeon struggled to answer key questions about the proposals.
He said it was “quite possible” a stated exemption for NHS properties and hospitals could be extended to cover other public sector workers, potentially saving them hundreds of pounds a year.
He added: “I’m not ruling anything out at this stage.”
However, despite indicating the views of stakeholders would be fully taken into account, the spokesman was unable to say how the proposals will be consulted on.
Plans for a workplace parking levy emerged as part of a last-minute Budget deal between the SNP and the Greens, which secured £34 billion-worth of financial plans for 2019/20.
Similar schemes in England have seen workers forced to fork out hundreds of pounds a year to park their car.
While the tax is charged to employers, they can choose to pass this on to staff.
The Scottish Tories said the proposals had been scrawled "on the back of a fag packet" and demanded a full consultation.
The party pointed to comments in 2017 by then-transport minister Humza Yousaf, who said there would be "conversations" ahead of any levy being implemented.
But in November last year, the current Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said the Government had "not consulted on the idea".
Scottish Tory shadow finance secretary Murdo Fraser said the SNP had been “well and truly caught out”.
He said: “A stronger government would simply bin this badly thought out plan now. But if the SNP really wants to persist in keeping it going, it should at least do so with due respect for the people who will be affected.
“That means– as they promised – holding a full consultation, conducting an economic impact assessment, taking it out of the Transport Bill, and allowing the Scottish Parliament to scrutinize it properly.
“With every day that goes by, it’s becoming clear that Derek Mackay’s budget was scrawled by the Greens on the back of a fag packet. The car park tax is a complete mess. The SNP must, for once, listen to people and think again.”
He added: “The latest news that this tax might exempt public sector workers but still hit low paid workers in the private sector, is yet more evidence of its unfairness."
A spokesman for Ms Sturgeon said the plans were a “Green amendment which we’ve agreed in principle to support”.
Repeatedly pressed on the issue, and whether it had the Scottish Government’s support, he said: “Not to simplify it too much, it was either this Budget or no Budget. This was the deal last week that we agreed on.”
A spokesman for Finance Secretary Derek Mackay later said ministers "had no choice but to agree to work with the Greens on an amendment to introduce a workplace parking levy" in order to pass the Budget.
He added: "Our support is contingent on exemptions for NHS and hospital premises and we will listen to other views on other workplaces that may seek exemptions."
The controversial proposals are expected to be pushed through as an amendment to the Transport (Scotland) Bill.
Scottish Greens transport spokesman John Finnie said: “My amendment to the Transport Bill will give local government the kind of power taken for granted in every council in England. Trusting our communities to raise funds in a way that suits local circumstances is clearly something that the Tories are scared of.
“I will be encouraging the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee to take evidence on my amendment so there is expert scrutiny of it.
"If a council chooses to introduce a workplace parking scheme, it would be up to that council to design a scheme and consult on it locally. It’s certainly my intention to draft the amendment in a way that exempts the NHS, as agreed with the Scottish Government."
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