THE Scottish Government will lay out the results of a fiscal review within two weeks of a UK Government emergency Budget, John Swinney has said.
Ministers pledged to undertake a budget review in response to the cost of living crisis, in a bid to identify funding from other spending areas that can ease the pressure on households. The new UK prime minister could hold an emergency Budget or other fiscal event after taking office in an attempt to tackle the crisis and the Deputy First Minister pledged to act quickly if that happened.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will publish her plans for the next year in the Programme for Government tomorrow, with Swinney due to give an update on the budget review and its impact on public-sector pay the following day.
He said: “The UK Government’s existing spending plans, coupled with Bank of England inflation forecasts, mean that the Scottish Government’s funding will fall by 4.5% in real terms next year.
“If inflation rises significantly higher, the resources available to us will erode even further at the very time when costs are increasing.
“With the new prime minister due to be appointed this week, it is vital that the UK Government now acts decisively to tackle this ongoing crisis.
“Further spending cuts to Scotland’s budget from the UK Government would be disastrous and would cost lives.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel