New funding for bus fares, drug services and free school meals.
Agreements have been reached separately with the Scottish Liberal
Democrats and Scottish Green Party to support the 2025-26 Budget.
Finance Secretary has announced she will table
amendments to the 2025-26 Budget Bill to allocate £16.7 million
funding to:
• Bolster drug and alcohol services, including £1 million for
specialist support for babies born addicted to drugs
• Begin a £2 bus fare cap pilot in one regional transport
area
• Further strengthen support for hospices from £4 million to £5
million
• Increase Nature Restoration by £3 million to its highest ever
level
• Invest in targeted support for the College sector and protect
Corseford College
• Extend free school meal eligibility in S1-S3 in eight local
authority areas for pupils in receipt of Scottish Child
Payment
• Offer flexibility for Orkney Island Council in terms of capital
and resource funding
Ms Robison said:
“We are determined to deliver on the issues that matter most to
the people of Scotland – and that is why this Budget invests in
public services and in eradicating child poverty, acts in the
face of the climate emergency, and supports jobs.
“The First Minister was clear that we would bring forward a
budget by Scotland for Scotland, and the negotiations we have
taken forward have been in that spirit. These additional
initiatives demonstrate the value of a progressive approach and
dialogue.
“During every stage of this process the Liberal Democrats and the
Greens have engaged in our discussions in a positive and
constructive manner.
“Through seeking compromise I believe we are delivering a budget
that will strengthen services and support our communities. With
the agreements with these two parties now in place this will
secure a majority in parliament in support of the Budget Bill.”
Background
Finance Secretary letter
to Finance and Public Administration Committee
Budget (Scotland) Bill
The new initiatives will be funded through reallocation of
funding for debt servicing in 2025-26, given that debt servicing
costs will be lower than expected when the draft Budget was
published; and an additional drawdown of £3 million from revenues
raised from Scotwind, to support nature restoration.
