The Scottish Government has warned opposition parties not to block its £33bn spending plans for the next year, ahead of a crunch vote at Holyrood.
The Scottish Government's £33bn spending plans for the next year have cleared their first hurdle.
Ministers urged MSPs not to jeopardise their plans to weather the economic crisis and "protect nearly 5,000 jobs".
The SNP's 2009-10 budget was passed by MSPs at the first stage of parliamentary scrutiny, with help from Labour, Tories and the Greens.
Rival parties have threatened to vote down the plans in Holyrood if their demands for changes are not met.
The Lib Dems refused to back the plans, saying they failed to help Scotland through the financial downturn.
MSPs are being asked to back the 2009-10 budget when it faces its first parliamentary hurdle.
And opposition MSPs warned they may still vote the spending plans down if their concerns were not addressed.
The spending plans include £230m brought forward to speed up a range of transport, health and education projects.
The spending plans include £230m brought forward to speed up a range of transport, health and education projects.
Labour, the Liberal Democrats, Conservatives, the Greens and independent Margo MacDonald have been continuing talks with the minority government on gaining concessions, in return for their support.
Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney insisted the budget would weather the economic storm and protect nearly 5,000 jobs.
We are prepared to listen to reasonable ideas and proposals from across the parliament John SwinneyScottish finance secretary Lib Dem leader Tavish Scott, whose call for a 2p income tax cut was rejected by ministers, branded the budget "woefully inadequate".
He told parliament he was willing to meet rival parties to consider their demands, adding: "This budget reflects the needs of the people of Scotland, the economic challenges that we face."
"No other government, national or devolved, in Western Europe has made such a meagre response to this economic storm," he said.
The budget will now move forward to the next stage of parliamentary scrutiny, ahead of a final vote at the end of January.
Conservative leader Annabel Goldie said her party would not support the budget unless it supported "hard-pressed families and businesses".
"The Scottish Parliament has an opportunity through responsible negotiations to secure a sensible budget for the people of Scotland," she said.
Labour finance spokesman Andy Kerr said ministers had to address his concerns about supporting employment and public services to win the party's support.
He said: "What Labour would like to see in the budget is a much bigger and significant commitment by the government in Scotland to ensure we re-inflate the economy, support those in industry and commerce in need of support and ensure we look after the needs of apprentices and we develop our skills agenda."
The Greens want a £100m-a-year for 10 years, to provide home insulation for all.
Finance Secretary John Swinney said he was confident of winning enough support, adding: "We are prepared to listen to reasonable ideas and proposals from across the parliament."
He went on: "In these difficult times, there is a responsibility on parliament, as well as the government, to meet that challenge and not jeopardise the accelerated investment and jobs by standing in the way of the budget."
The budget will move forward to the next stage of parliamentary scrutiny if passed at the first stage by MSPs, ahead of a final vote in parliament at the end of January.
