For immediate release:

SCOTTISH BUDGET WELCOMED BY LOCAL MSP

Holyrood has backed the Scottish Government’s budget plans, which offer “economic stability in the face of Brexit while giving a cash boost to the NHS, schools and other vital services”, according to Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey.

Despite Westminster cuts of almost £2 billion in a decade to Scotland’s block resource grant, the Scottish Government is proposing additional funding of almost £730 million for Scotland’s health and care services – including a total of £1.2 billion for NHS Lanarkshire, a rise of £43.2 million.

Councils across Scotland will receive a real-terms increase in both revenue and capital funding with a total overall settlement of £11.1bn, plus an additional £90 million for the core local government grant.

Under the deal reached, South Lanarkshire Council will be provided with an extra £5.4 million on top of the £606 million already allocated in December’s draft budget. This equates to an increase of £17.6 million on the previous year.

Furthermore, councils will be granted more flexibility in setting council tax charges whilst ensuring increases are below the maximum permitted in England. In the future, local authorities could implement a so-called tourist tax, among other measures.

In total, overall spending power for local authorities next year will be £620 million higher than it is currently.

The budget also includes more than £180 million to raise attainment in schools, and almost £500 million for the expansion of free hours in early learning and childcare.

Commenting, Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey said:

“With the UK Government in complete chaos, the Scottish Government is offering economic stability in the face of Brexit while giving a cash boost to the NHS, schools and other vital services.

“This budget uses our powers in a progressive way in order to protect and invest in our public services.

“South Lanarkshire Council will see its core budget increase by nearly £18 million to over £611 million next year, whilst they will be given more flexibility to raise further funds and will soon have new powers to raise even more revenue.

“A total of £1.2 billion will be allocated to NHS Lanarkshire, £500 million will be spent to double free childcare provision, and schools will see £180 million to cut the attainment gap. This is all while fifty-five per cent of Scottish taxpayers will continue to pay less than they would if they lived elsewhere in the UK.

“As Westminster continues to fail Scotland, the Scottish Government is set to deliver a budget that will safeguard Scotland as best we can, and I am delighted Parliament has backed our proposals.

ENDS

Notes:

Information on the revised settlement, and the additional funds to public services, can be found on the link below:

https://news.gov.scot/news/additional-investment-in-public-services

South Lanarkshire Council’s Capital and Revenue Distributable Funding Circular for:

• 2018-2019 was £593.824 million,
• The proposal made by the Scottish Government in December’s draft budget was £606.025 million
• An additional £5.388 has been allocated to the council’s grant through the Budget.

Table below shows NHS funding:

 

Budget Year	18/19	19/20	Increase £m	%
NHS Ayrshire and Arran	694.9	720	25.1	3.6%
NHS Borders	200.6	207.7	7.1	3.5%
NHS Dumfries and Galloway	289.1	299.1	10	3.5%
NHS Fife	636.6	661.4	24.8	3.9%
NHS Forth Valley	506.8	527	20.2	4.0%
NHS Grampian	920.6	957.9	37.3	4.1%
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde	2,154.50	2,231.20	76.7	3.6%
NHS Highland	604.3	627.5	23.2	3.8%
NHS Lanarkshire	1,156.10	1,199.30	43.2	3.7%
NHS Lothian	1,384.30	1,441.50	57.2	4.1%
NHS Orkney	47.7	49.6	1.9	4.0%
NHS Shetland	48.7	50.6	1.9	3.9%
NHS Tayside	734.8	762.9	28.1	3.8%
NHS Western Isles	73	75.7	2.7	3.7%

 

Date published: 4th February 2019