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/7115981.stm

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

Version 0 Version 1
Budget details to be scrutinised More detail call on budget plans
(about 23 hours later)
MSPs will grill ministers at Holyrood as scrutiny of the Scottish Government's budget plans continues. MSPs have asked for more detail from senior ministers on the SNP's budget plans and assurances that spending would achieve government aims.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill and Finance Secretary John Swinney will appear before Holyrood committees. Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill and Finance Secretary John Swinney all appeared before a Holyrood committee.
Umbrella group Universities Scotland will voice concerns that the budget allocation will leave them short. They were questioned on the impact of next year's budget on tackling drug and alcohol addiction.
After scrutiny, the Scottish Parliament will be asked to support the budget plans in the new year. Ms Sturgeon said more had to be done for children who were exposed to drugs.
Two weeks ago, Mr Swinney delivered his funding plans for the three years 2008 to 2011. She told the health committee that youngsters living with drug-addicted parents must get better support from authorities.
It will affect all areas of the devolved administration and so will be carefully looked at by Holyrood's committees. Methadone concerns
Treasury settlement Labour MSP and committee member Duncan McNeill said that between 40,000 and 60,000 children in Scotland were affected by parental drug issues, while 10,000 to 20,000 of those children were living with parents with an addiction.
The economy committee will take evidence on the draft budget from bosses at Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and tourism body VisitScotland. Mr MacAskill, when challenged by Tory MSP Mary Scanlon, also said that Scotland's current rate of methadone prescription was "not acceptable".
Scottish Enterprise stated that the funding plans presented the organisation with "real challenges", given its growing number of projects and the need for greater efficiency savings. The cabinet secretaries gave an assurance that the SNP government's historic concordat with councils and a new emphasis on "outcome agreements" would ensure that the Scottish Government's budget would be properly spent.
However, the economic development agency gave a commitment to focussing its activities to make the biggest difference. After scrutiny, the Scottish Parliament will be asked to support the three-year budget plans in the new year.
In a submission to the education committee, Scotland's college association welcomed its funding allocation, claiming it would be able to deliver an "effective" education service, while recognising a challenging UK Treasury settlement.
Less happy was the umbrella body Universities Scotland.
It expressed disappointment after university leaders requested a £168m increase in 2007-08 but received £30m.