Finance Secretary has urged Parliament to unite
behind the Scottish Government's proposed 2026-27 Budget.
The Budget Bill sets out the Scottish Government's proposals to
drive further improvements in the NHS and to support people with
the cost of living crisis.
Speaking ahead of today's (Thursday) stage one debate, Ms Robison
said:
“This is a Budget focused on the priorities of the people of
Scotland – delivering improvements in our NHS and supporting
people with the cost of living.
“The Budget will improve access to healthcare with funding for a
network of 15 walk-in GP clinics open seven days per week – and
provides real help for families with the cost of living crisis.
Our proposals also mean that 55% of people in Scotland can
expect to pay less income tax than in the rest of the UK.
“Our determination to eradicate child poverty is also underlined
in this Budget – with an increase in the Scottish Child Payment
and the introduction of a premium payment of £40 for eligible
children under one.
“The Budget will make lives better for people in Scotland – and I
would urge Parliament to back it today.”
Background
Budget (Scotland) Bill
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 2026-27 Budget includes:
- a record £22.5 billion for health and social care, including
a record £17.6 billion for NHS boards and resources to begin the
national rollout of walk-in GP clinics, making it easier to
access same-day appointments
- significant extra funding for universities and colleges, with
colleges seeing a combined increase of £70 million in resource
and capital funding, equivalent to a 10% uplift, targeted
support to help retrain workers in the oil and gas sector and
ongoing commitment to Scotland's apprenticeships, which this year
will provide more than 31,000 Scots with a pathway to
sustainable, well-paid jobs
- a cost of living package to: help families with funding to
trial a programme of activities in a range of primary schools
between 3-6pm; a Summer of Sport – free children's sporting
activities, including lessons on how to swim for every primary
school child in the country; and a breakfast club for every
primary school by August 2027
- funding to increase Scottish Child Payment to £28.20 per week
and investment to allow the introduction of a premium payment of
£40 per week for eligible children under 12 months from 2027-28,
bolstering efforts to drive down child poverty
- continued investment in Scotland's existing cost of living
measures, including free prescriptions, free eye examinations,
removal of peak rail fares on Scotrail, free tuition fees for
young Scots, free school meals for thousands of children,
including all pupils in P1 to P5, and free bus travel for
under-22s and over-60s
