Spending plans to be scrutinised by Parliament.
Finance Secretary has urged Parliament to
engage constructively with the 2025-26 Scottish Budget.
The Budget Bill, published today, gives Parliament the
opportunity to scrutinise the Scottish Government's public
spending proposals as set out by Ms Robison on 4 December.
Committees will take evidence on the plans before MSPs debate the
Bill's general principles in the Chamber.
The Finance and Public Administration Committee will consider the
detail of the Bill and any Government amendments ahead of the
Parliament's final debate and vote on whether the Bill should
become law.
Proposed income tax rates and bands, which will apply from April,
are set out in a Scottish Rate Resolution that is subject to a
separate vote before the final stage of the Bill.
The Finance Secretary said:
“This Budget invests in public services, lifts children out of
poverty, acts in the face of the climate emergency and supports
jobs and economic growth.
“Parliament can show that we understand the pressures people are
facing by coming together to bring hope to people, to renew our
public services and deliver a wealth of new opportunities in our
economy.
“I am urging all parties to work with us to pass this Budget and
to deliver the progress and hope that people in Scotland
desperately want to see.”
Background
Budget (Scotland) (No. 4)
Bill | Scottish Parliament Website
The 2025-26 Budget includes:
- a record £2 billion increase in frontline NHS spending,
taking overall health and social care investment to £21 billion
to reduce NHS waiting lists, make it easier for people to see
their GP and progress the Belford Hospital, Monklands Hospital
and Edinburgh Eye Pavilion projects
- funding for universal winter heating payments for older Scots
and investment to allow the mitigation of the two-child cap from
2026
- tax choices that freeze income tax rates, increase the Basic
and Intermediate rate thresholds to put more money in the pockets
of low and middle-income earners, and provide business rates
relief for hard-pressed local pubs and restaurants
- a record £15 billion for local government to support the
services communities rely on and £768 million to provide 8,000
more affordable homes
- £4.9 billion of action on the climate and nature crises to
lower emissions and energy bills, protect the environment and
create new jobs and opportunities
- a real-terms uplift of 3% for spending on education and
skills to maintain teacher levels and invest in school
infrastructure, as well as new funding to expand access to
breakfast clubs in primary schools
- a £34 million uplift for culture in 2025-26
