Targeted funding for people and public services.
A £6.3 billion investment in social security and more than £19.5
billion for health and social care form the heart of the Scottish
Budget for next year, alongside record funding for local
authorities and frontline police and fire services.
With targeted funding to invest in public services and protect
the most vulnerable, the Budget underpins the social contract
with the people of Scotland, Deputy First Minister and Finance
Secretary told Parliament. She also
outlined policies to grow the economy and progress the commitment
to deliver a just transition to net zero.
Difficult decisions have been required to prioritise funding for
the services people rely on in the face of a deeply challenging
financial situation, Ms Robison added.
The 2024-25 Scottish Budget includes:
- £6.3 billion for social security benefits, which will all be
increased in line with inflation. This is £1.1 billion more than
the funding received from the UK Government for devolved benefits
in 2024-25
- £13.2 billion for frontline NHS boards, with additional
investment of more than half a billion – an uplift of over 4%
- record funding of more than £14 billion for local government,
including £144 million to enable local authorities to freeze
Council Tax rates at their current levels
- more than £1.5 billion for policing to support frontline
services and key priorities such as body-worn cameras
- almost £400 million to support the fire service
- £200 million to help tackle the poverty-related attainment
gap, almost £390 million to protect teacher numbers and fund the
teacher pay deal, and up to £1.5 million to cancel school meal
debt
- almost £2.5 billion for public transport to provide viable
alternatives to car use, and increased investment of £220 million
in active travel to promote walking, wheeling and cycling
The Finance Secretary said:
“It is an enormous privilege to present my first Budget. A Budget
setting out, in tough times, to protect people, sustain public
services, support a growing, sustainable economy, and address the
climate and nature emergencies.
“At its heart is our social contract with the people of Scotland,
where those with the broadest shoulders are asked to contribute a
little more. Where everyone can have access to universal services
and entitlements, and those in need of an extra helping hand will
receive targeted additional support.
“This Budget is set in turbulent circumstances. At the global
level the impacts of inflation, the war in Ukraine, and the
after-effects of the pandemic continue to create instability. In
the UK the combined effects of Brexit and disastrous Westminster
policies mean that we are uniquely vulnerable to these
international shocks.
“We cannot mitigate every cut made by the UK Government. But
through the choices we have made, we have been true to our values
and rigorous in prioritising our investment where it will have
the most impact.
“We choose investment in our people and public services. This is
a Budget that reflects our shared values as a nation and speaks
to the kind of Scotland that we want to be.”
Background
Scottish Budget
2024-25
Summary of UK Economic and
Fiscal Outlook from Office of the Chief Economic Adviser
