Complex sentence: Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont said that the policy should be implemented immediately if the Scottish Government believed it would have a beneficial effect, but Salmond responded that under devolution the costs of the policy would have to be financed by cuts elsewhere in public expenditure.
Split into simpler sentences: Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont said that the policy should be implemented now, if the Scottish Government believed it would have a beneficial effect. Salmond said in response that under devolution the costs of the policy would have to be financed by cuts elsewhere in public expenditure.