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Scottish budget: Colleges and housing sector given extra £48m Scottish budget: Colleges and housing sector given extra £48m
(35 minutes later)
Scotland's finance secretary has promised a cash boost to colleges and the housing sector as he seeks to win approval for his spending plans.Scotland's finance secretary has promised a cash boost to colleges and the housing sector as he seeks to win approval for his spending plans.
During Holyrood's budget debate, John Swinney told MSPs there would be an additional £38m for affordable housing and renovation projects.During Holyrood's budget debate, John Swinney told MSPs there would be an additional £38m for affordable housing and renovation projects.
He also said college funding would increase by £10m next year.He also said college funding would increase by £10m next year.
Labour's Ken Macintosh said Mr Swinney's budget measures for the year ahead were "disappointing". Opposition parties said Mr Swinney's budget measures for the year ahead were "disappointing".
@meljomur @angusde not in 2014/15 according to the @scotgov who say it will be an additional £51M that year
just now
    • An extra £51M for colleges in the 2014/15 financial year is linked to reform and is an attempt to stop a 3rd year of college controversy.
    35 Minutes ago
    • Swinney takes money from Scot water loans and renewable energy investment fund to increase housing spending supporting, he says, 800 jobs.
    1 Hour ago
    • At 1440 @ScotParl will debate (and back) the @scotgov's £26 Billion spending plans. Catch the debate here http://t.co/9YAu38gR #spbudget13
    2 Hours ago
    • RT @TomfromBrighton: The BBC in Edinburgh have the nicest staff. Fact.
    9 Hours ago
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    Despite criticism from opposition parties, the Scottish government's spending plans are expected to be approved.
    In his address to parliament, Mr Swinney said it was important to make available the "best possible deal we can" for the country's colleges.
    To achieve that aim, he promised that the sector's budget would stand at £522m for 2013/14 and would be maintained at that level for 2014/15.
    He added that the Scottish government was investing to "deliver for Scotland's young people in the future".
    Announcing a series of budget changes following opposition demands, Mr Swinney said there would be:
    • A £61m increase in college funding over the three-year spending review period, putting the college budget at £522m in 2012-13 and £522m in 2013-14.
    • An additional £38m for housing, bringing total budget for housing supply to £859m.
    • £2m to bring empty town centre properties into residential use.
    • An extra £10m for vital trunk road and bridge repairs.
    • and £1m to double support for entrepreneurship.
    Mr Swinney finished his statement by saying: "The Scottish government has delivered a budget for growth.
    "We are building on our original spending plans having listened to the views of parliament and the country and are delivering extra funding for housing, creating jobs and cutting emissions, funding to regenerate our town centres, more support for entrepreneurship, investment in our trunk road network and a decisive further investment into our colleges."
    Opposition MSPs said the budget failed to encourage growth, although the SNP's overall majority will ensure the spending plans are passed.Opposition MSPs said the budget failed to encourage growth, although the SNP's overall majority will ensure the spending plans are passed.
    Ministers have said they would be willing to listen to opposition suggestions on improving the budget, but said those would need to include information on where the money to pay for them would be coming from. Labour's finance spokesman, Mr Macintosh, said of the budget: "There is nothing new here, nothing fresh, we are stuck with the same prescription the SNP have offered us for two years running and for two years running they have promised jobs and growth and yet there have been no jobs and no growth."
    Gavin Brown, of the Conservatives, said of the Scottish government: "They asked to be judged on what this budget did for the economy.
    "Mr Swinney said that he would put every single additional pound that he could into the economy, but we see disappointing results in colleges, we see disappointing results when it comes to housing and we see more disappointing results when it come to taxation."
    Mr Brown also attacked SNP MSPs who applauded Mr Swinney's college announcement, adding: "They will regret watching that back on television, I have to say, as I don't think there will be any spontaneous rounds of applause outside the chamber for a £24m cut to colleges."
    On the same theme, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie told parliament: "I found it astonishing there was celebration on the SNP benches when a cut of £25m was announced - that's nothing to celebrate.
    "£10m was nothing compared with the £35m cut that was planned and I find that really, really, disappointing."
    Mr Rennie also expressed regret that ministers did not act on his call to extend childcare to more two-year-olds.
    Mr Swinney, who has asked MSPs to back the government's Budget Bill, said his budget, funded by the Treasury, was being cut by about 8% in real terms between 2010-11 and 2014-15, as Westminster ministers seek to cut the spending deficit.Mr Swinney, who has asked MSPs to back the government's Budget Bill, said his budget, funded by the Treasury, was being cut by about 8% in real terms between 2010-11 and 2014-15, as Westminster ministers seek to cut the spending deficit.
    Childcare provision Before Mr Swinney announced his concessions, opposition politicians had backed concerns from the National Union of Students that colleges faced a £34.6m funding cut next year, and called for the reduction to be reversed.
    Before Mr Swinney announced his budget concessions, opposition politicians had backed concerns from the National Union of Students that colleges faced a £34.6m funding cut next year, and called for the reduction to be reversed.
    In addition to college funding, the Conservatives said previous cuts to the housing budget needed to be reversed, and cash set aside for town centre regeneration.In addition to college funding, the Conservatives said previous cuts to the housing budget needed to be reversed, and cash set aside for town centre regeneration.
    The Liberal Democrats, who have been holding budget talks with Scottish ministers, want childcare provision for two-year-olds extended in line with a commitment from the UK government.The Liberal Democrats, who have been holding budget talks with Scottish ministers, want childcare provision for two-year-olds extended in line with a commitment from the UK government.
    Party leader Willie Rennie said: "Scottish Liberal Democrats have worked constructively with the Scottish government, as we did last year, to influence the budget.Party leader Willie Rennie said: "Scottish Liberal Democrats have worked constructively with the Scottish government, as we did last year, to influence the budget.
    "In tough economic times we must make choices which deliver a stronger economy in a fairer society.""In tough economic times we must make choices which deliver a stronger economy in a fairer society."
    Labour said the extra cash given to Scottish ministers by the UK government in the autumn statement should be used solely for housing.Labour said the extra cash given to Scottish ministers by the UK government in the autumn statement should be used solely for housing.