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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| SNP to unveil first Scots budget | SNP to unveil first Scots budget |
| (about 12 hours later) | |
| The Scottish Government is to outline spending plans for the next three years when its first budget is unveiled. | The Scottish Government is to outline spending plans for the next three years when its first budget is unveiled. |
| It comes after SNP ministers said they had received the worst Treasury financial settlement since devolution. | It comes after SNP ministers said they had received the worst Treasury financial settlement since devolution. |
| The minority Nationalist administration needs the support of rival parties to get the budget plans through Holyrood. | The minority Nationalist administration needs the support of rival parties to get the budget plans through Holyrood. |
| Labour, the Lib Dems and the Tories have already accused the SNP of breaking a manifesto pledge over delivering new police officers. | Labour, the Lib Dems and the Tories have already accused the SNP of breaking a manifesto pledge over delivering new police officers. |
| They claimed the same could follow on a promise for classes no bigger than 18 pupils for the first three years of primary school. | They claimed the same could follow on a promise for classes no bigger than 18 pupils for the first three years of primary school. |
| Labour claimed the SNP had so far put off at least 60 decisions - and said it was now time to deliver. | Labour claimed the SNP had so far put off at least 60 decisions - and said it was now time to deliver. |
| Finance Secretary John Swinney, who will deliver the budget plans in a statement to the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, has been holding ongoing talks with local authority leaders on a council tax freeze next year. | Finance Secretary John Swinney, who will deliver the budget plans in a statement to the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, has been holding ongoing talks with local authority leaders on a council tax freeze next year. |
| People across Scotland that voted SNP want to know if they were misled Iain GrayLabour finance spokesman | People across Scotland that voted SNP want to know if they were misled Iain GrayLabour finance spokesman |
| Mr Swinney is expected to tell MSPs that economic growth will be the top priority, as well as outlining cuts in business rates, support for enhanced skills training and a boost for renewable energy. | |
| He hopes they will agree not to put up the council tax in return for extra funding from government and a new deal to boost their status. | He hopes they will agree not to put up the council tax in return for extra funding from government and a new deal to boost their status. |
| The Treasury announced in October that Scottish Government spending would go up by an average annual rate of 1.8% over the next three years, an increase of between £1.2bn to £3.7bn each year. | The Treasury announced in October that Scottish Government spending would go up by an average annual rate of 1.8% over the next three years, an increase of between £1.2bn to £3.7bn each year. |
| But while Scottish Secretary Des Browne said the outcome of the budget and spending review was "very good for Scotland", First Minister Alex Salmond said the figures were misleading and that the true increase was 1.4%. | But while Scottish Secretary Des Browne said the outcome of the budget and spending review was "very good for Scotland", First Minister Alex Salmond said the figures were misleading and that the true increase was 1.4%. |
| Labour finance spokesman Iain Gray said the Scottish Government would soon have a budget of £30bn - double that of the first devolved administration in 1999. | Labour finance spokesman Iain Gray said the Scottish Government would soon have a budget of £30bn - double that of the first devolved administration in 1999. |
| Budget tests | Budget tests |
| "People across Scotland that voted SNP want to know if they were misled," he said. | "People across Scotland that voted SNP want to know if they were misled," he said. |
| "If the SNP can't give us more details on promises, such as student debt being written off or grants for first time home buyers, then the SNP will have a lot of explaining to do." | "If the SNP can't give us more details on promises, such as student debt being written off or grants for first time home buyers, then the SNP will have a lot of explaining to do." |
| The Tories have set out a series of seven key tests on which they will judge the Nationalists' spending plans, namely taxes, NHS dentistry, affordable housing, justice, rehabilitation, efficiency and improving infrastructure. | The Tories have set out a series of seven key tests on which they will judge the Nationalists' spending plans, namely taxes, NHS dentistry, affordable housing, justice, rehabilitation, efficiency and improving infrastructure. |
| "Our assessment of how far the SNP spending plans go in meeting these tests, together with judgement on the budget as a whole, will determine whether we support or oppose the Budget Bill in Parliament," said the party's finance spokesman Derek Brownlee. | "Our assessment of how far the SNP spending plans go in meeting these tests, together with judgement on the budget as a whole, will determine whether we support or oppose the Budget Bill in Parliament," said the party's finance spokesman Derek Brownlee. |
| Liberal Democrat finance spokesman Tavish Scott, whose party has also devised a series of budget tests, said that any failure of the government to deliver on SNP manifesto commitments would be because it had "promised everything to everyone". | Liberal Democrat finance spokesman Tavish Scott, whose party has also devised a series of budget tests, said that any failure of the government to deliver on SNP manifesto commitments would be because it had "promised everything to everyone". |
| "The SNP are struggling to balance the books on vital public services like more police and teachers," he added. | "The SNP are struggling to balance the books on vital public services like more police and teachers," he added. |