To the point that my idea that the personal allowance for income tax should be set, by law, at the full year full time minimum wage earnings will be in the manifestos of at least two political parties (likely, those who will come third and fourth, but you cannot have everything) at the next general election.

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The increased personal allowance will apply to all income for this tax year and so will be backdated to 6 April.

BBC: Full statement: Tax changes

But First Minister Alex Salmond, who has called for full fiscal powers for Scotland, said the proposals had been overtaken by the UK government's plan to pay for a rise in the income tax allowance with personal increases in National Insurance, under which money would go straight to the Treasury.

BBC: Queen's Speech outlines new Scottish Parliament powers