This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/7853909.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Fergusson in budget tie warning Scots budget faces uphill battle
(about 6 hours later)
The Scottish Parliament's presiding officer has warned MSPs he will use his casting vote against the Scots budget, in the event of a tie. Scottish ministers are facing an uphill battle to pass their budget, after Labour and the Liberal Democrats signalled they would vote against it.
The minority government will now have to rely on support from the Tories and the two Green MSPs to pass the £33bn spending plans for 2009-10.
Parliament will be asked to approve the budget in a crunch vote on Wednesday.
The Scottish Parliament's presiding officer will use his casting vote against it in the event of a tie.
Alex Fergusson has privately told party whips he would follow convention and opt for the status quo, if such a situation arose.Alex Fergusson has privately told party whips he would follow convention and opt for the status quo, if such a situation arose.
Meanwhile, budget talks between ministers and rival parties have been continuing. Securing support
The minority government needs support to pass its £33bn spending plans. Despite holding last-minute negotiations with rival parties, talks between Labour and Finance Secretary John Swinney broke down.
Parliament will be asked to give final approval to the 2009-10 budget in a crunch vote on Wednesday. The party, which wanted changes including more money for apprenticeships, said the concessions offered by the government were not enough.
Ministers said their plans would support thousands of jobs and bring forward £230m worth of transport, health and education projects to get the economy moving again. The Liberal Democrats' call for a 2p income tax cut has already been rejected by ministers.
Labour has said it wants increased support for jobs, including apprenticeships and in public services, while the Tories' demands have included more action on hospital infections and a town centre regeneration fund. The Greens have asked for a £100m-a-year free home insulation scheme, although Mr Swinney has offered a lower-price pilot scheme.
The Greens have asked for a £100m-a-year free home insulation scheme, while the Liberal Democrats' request for a 2p income tax cut was earlier dismissed by ministers. It it thought the Conservatives, whose list of demands includes more action on hospital infections and a town centre regeneration fund, will vote for the budget.
Ministers hope they can secure support from independent MSP Margo Macdonald.
The government said its budget would support thousands of jobs and bring forward £230m worth of transport, health and education projects to get the economy moving again.
Rejecting the spending plans would cost Scotland £1.8bn of spending in 2009-10, said the government, under emergency measures allowing ministers to spend at the latest version of the current year's budget.