Swinney's public services warning

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Finance Secretary John Swinney has claimed that last week's rejection of the Scottish budget could hit public services.

He told BBC Scotland there had to be enough time to plan spending, before the new budget kicked in.

Mr Swinney also said he was continuing to work to secure enough opposition party support to get the £33bn spending plans through parliament.

The minority administration's budget was voted down by MSPs on Wednesday.

Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens combined to oppose the spending plans, claiming it would fail to see Scotland through the economic crisis.

Backing demands

Mr Swinney told BBC Scotland's Politics Show he was "surprised and disappointed" the budget did not get through, adding: "Parliament didn't look particularly good on Wednesday.

"I've got a responsibility to get the budget through and I wasn't able to get that through."

Ministers are hoping to get the re-introduced Budget Bill passed by MSPs on 11 February.

"There is real concern within our public services that resources will not flow through in adequate time and with adequate certainty to allow for planning to use the public funds that are available," added Mr Swinney.

In the wake of the budget rejection, Labour and the Liberal Democrats have offered their support in return for backing demands to boost apprenticeships and economic measures.

The vote on the 2009-10 budget was tied at 64-64. It then fell on the casting vote of Scottish Parliament Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson, who is required by convention to support the status quo.