Investing in vital public services and ending Scotland’s
contribution to climate change are at the heart of the Scottish
Government’s tax and spending plans for the year ahead.
Setting out the Scottish Budget 2020-21, Public Finance
Minister announced a package of
funding to accelerate Scotland’s transition to a net-zero
economy, including £1.8 billion of investment in low carbon
infrastructure which will help reduce emissions.
She also announced a record investment of £15 billion in health
and care services and £645 million for the expansion of early
learning and childcare.
The Scottish Budget 2020-21 also proposes:
- £117 million investment in mental health for all ages and
stages of life
- £180 million to raise attainment in schools
- an above real-terms increase of £37 million to the police
budget and an additional £6.5 million to support community
justice to reduce re-offending
- £220 million of seed funding for the Scottish National
Investment Bank to support its mission to drive the transition
to a net-zero economy
- increased investment of £270 million in rail services and
an additional £16 million in concessionary travel and bus
services, taking total investment in rail and bus services to
around £1.55 billion
- increased investment of £5.5 million in active travel
- £20 million for peatland restoration with a commitment to
invest more than £250 million over 10 years
- Investment of more than £64 million to support the
commitment to plant 12,000 hectares of forestry, with the aim
to reach 15,000 hectares by the mid-2020s
- a new £120 million Heat Transition Deal and a total
investment of £151 million in energy efficiency
- £40 million for an Agricultural Transformation Programme
- a 3% pay uplift for public sector workers earning up to
£80,000
Ms Forbes said:
“The global climate emergency is at the centre of our Programme
for Government and we have already put in place the most
ambitious climate legislation and targets of any country. This
Budget will help deliver on that wold-leading ambition.
“From increased investment in low carbon transport to funding
for peatland restoration and forestry, this Budget sets out our
spending plans to help us deliver the transformation we need
across society to transition to net-zero.
“We have also put wellbeing firmly at the heart of this Budget
to benefit as many people as possible across the country. We
will do this through prioritising inclusive economic growth
with the creation of high quality jobs, supporting our public
services and tackling inequalities head on.
“We estimate that we are investing at least £1.4 billion to
support low-income households, mitigating the worst effects of
the UK Government’s benefit cuts which are hitting the poorest
in society and our Scottish Child Payment will help lift 30,000
children out of poverty when it is fully rolled out in 2022.
“I urge the Parliament to work constructively with us to pass
this Budget in the national interest.”
Background
Full details of the Scottish Budget
2020-21
