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Swinney details council tax deal Swinney details council tax deal
(10 minutes later)
Scotland's Finance Secretary John Swinney has given details of a working agreement with local government body Cosla over a council tax freeze.Scotland's Finance Secretary John Swinney has given details of a working agreement with local government body Cosla over a council tax freeze.
He said the "historic agreement" would enable the Scottish Government to "deliver on key pledges".He said the "historic agreement" would enable the Scottish Government to "deliver on key pledges".
In his address to the Holyrood parliament he admitted he was unable to deliver all those pledges.In his address to the Holyrood parliament he admitted he was unable to deliver all those pledges.
He said the government would have to live within the "worst" budget settlement from the Treasury.He said the government would have to live within the "worst" budget settlement from the Treasury.
Mr Swinney told MSPs on Wednesday: "Unlike previous budgets in Scotland, this budget will match our spending with our overarching purpose of government. It is a major step forward in aligning the whole of the public sector in support of our key objectives.Mr Swinney told MSPs on Wednesday: "Unlike previous budgets in Scotland, this budget will match our spending with our overarching purpose of government. It is a major step forward in aligning the whole of the public sector in support of our key objectives.
BUDGET PROCESS 14 November - Finance Secretary John Swinney's statement to HolyroodNovember/December - Holyrood subject committees scrutinise relevant portfolio areas19 December - Subject committees report back to finance committee16 January - Finance committee makes recommendations20 January at latest - Scottish Government lays budget bill before parliamentLate January - MSPs asked to endorse bill general principlesLate January/early February - Bill returns to finance committee for further scrutiny.Early February - Parliament decides, in a final vote, whether to pass the budget. READ IN FULL class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/14_11_07_snpbudget.pdf">Scottish Budget - Spending Review 2007 [833KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader href="http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html">Download the reader here
"We will invest explicitly in making Scotland wealthier and fairer; smarter; healthier; safer and stronger and greener with the overall purpose of increasing sustainable economic growth."We will invest explicitly in making Scotland wealthier and fairer; smarter; healthier; safer and stronger and greener with the overall purpose of increasing sustainable economic growth.
"As part of this transformation we are freeing local government to succeed, removing ring-fencing and enabling councils to allocate resources according to local priorities and in line with a new performance framework.""As part of this transformation we are freeing local government to succeed, removing ring-fencing and enabling councils to allocate resources according to local priorities and in line with a new performance framework."
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.
BUDGET PROCESS 14 November - Finance Secretary John Swinney's statement to HolyroodNovember/December - Holyrood subject committees scrutinise relevant portfolio areas19 December - Subject committees report back to finance committee16 January - Finance committee makes recommendations20 January at latest - Scottish Government lays budget bill before parliamentLate January - MSPs asked to endorse bill general principlesLate January/early February - Bill returns to finance committee for further scrutiny.Early February - Parliament decides, in a final vote, whether to pass the budget.
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.
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.
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.
However, while Scottish Secretary Des Browne said the outcome of the budget and spending review was "very good for Scotland".However, while Scottish Secretary Des Browne said the outcome of the budget and spending review was "very good for Scotland".