If you're just joining us you will not be surprised to learn that FMQs was dominated by yesterday's historic Budget.

• John Swinney and Russell Findlay clashed over the detail of Rachel Reeves' Budget
• The Scottish Tory leader called it a "tax heist" and called on Swinney to cut income tax in the forthcoming Scottish budget
• The first minister hit back, saying the Budget was necessary to "clear up the mess" the Tories had created during the "horror show" of the last 14 years
• Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, not surprisingly, argued it was a "transformative and game-changing Budget for Scotland"
• The FM agreed it was a welcome increase in funding but he regretted the continuation of the two child benefit cap
• It was the Budget yet again that dominated Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater's questions, as she called for a reversal to Scottish government cuts to the Nature Restoration Fund and active travel funding and an extension of primary school free meals
• The first minister said his government would look at primary school meals again ahead of the Scottish budget on 4 December

That's all from the live page team today. Calum Watson was the editor. Ashleigh Keenan-Bryce and Craig Hutchison were the writers.

Angus Cochrane
BBC Scotland News

Image source, Getty Images

The Scottish government has demanded that it is fully compensated by the Treasury for a hike in National Insurance for public sector employers.

Finance Secretary Shona Robison said the tax increase announced in the UK autumn Budget could cost the SNP administration £500m.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves seemed to suggest £3.4bn in additional funding for Scotland in 2025-26 did not include compensation as she urged Holyrood ministers to spend the money "wisely".

However, the UK government said that extra funds would be provided on top of the £3.4bn to make up for the extra staff costs.

Read more here.

Big beasts Findlay and Swinney slug it out at FMQspublished at 13:05 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October

13:05 GMT 31 October

Andrew Kerr
BBC Scotland political correspondent

This felt like a real high-powered performance from two big political beasts.

Both towering in height over their lecterns and booming at each other across the chamber, Russell Findlay and John Swinney seemed to relish acting out their anger.

The Conservative leader set out clear blue water; criticising Labour's "tax heist" Budget and demanding relief for hard-working Scots when it comes to the SNP levying taxes - and for business too.

The First Minister hit back at Mr Findlay - attempting to isolate the Tories on tax in the chamber.

He criticised the unsustainable public finances that he said the Conservatives had left.

Back and forth they criticised each other - Mr Findlay thinking he'd "touched a nerve" as Mr Swinney "protested his honesty".

The first minister called out the Tory leader's one-time support for Liz Truss.

Acting aside, there are important debates to have on tax and Labour know that - with Anas Sarwar hoping to be in John Swinney's seat in 2026.

He didn't mention tax cuts in his contribution.

Douglas Lumsden raises the issue of SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn lobbying for an offshore wind project, which the Scottish government approved.

A month later he received a donation of £30,000 from one of the beneficiaries of that project, the Tory MSP adds.

He calls for an investigation into the consent process.

The first minister replies: "I have no intention of doing that, because the process has been properly conducted."

He accuses Lumsden of debasing this parliament and the Conservative Party.

SNP MSP Christine Grahame says without any notice to the Scottish Government, NHS Lothian has withdrawn around £200,000 of support for Veterans First Point, external.

The MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale says with Glencorse barracks in her constituency, she is aware of how vital the service is in providing mental and emotional support to veterans.

She asks the first minister whether he agrees this is a "cruel and thoughtless" move by NHS Lothian, particularly approaching Remembrance Day.

The first minister says he understands there is engagement ongoing with NHS Lothian around this issue to ensure the continuation of "vital" support for veterans with Health Secretary Neil Gray and Minister for Veterans, Graeme Day.

Conservative MSP Liz Smith asks the first minister what engagement the Scottish government has had with Police Scotland officials responsible for investigating whether the actions of Professor Sam Eljamel amounted to criminal conduct.

Eljamel harmed dozens of patients at NHS Tayside, leaving some with life-changing injuries.

The first minister says the investigation of any crime is a matter for Police Scotland and the Scottish government have no say in such matters.

He says government officials met Police Scotland in June of this year to discuss the establishment of the public inquiry with some further engagement in September.

Budget 'dance' between Greens and SNPpublished at 12:54 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October

12:54 GMT 31 October

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

A certain pattern has developed between the Greens and SNP at FMQs.

Lorna Slater or Patrick Harvie asks for something ahead of the Scottish government budget - in previous weeks it has been a tax on private jets and cruise ships, and today’s example was to reinstate the government’s previous commitment to roll out free school meals to all primary pupils by 2026.

John Swinney then welcomes the suggestion and says he will look at it carefully in the budget.

There is a dance going on between these two parties, which have been regular partners in budget talks since 2016.

Yes, the Greens have also made some tacit threats, including mention of the fact they brought down an SNP budget in 2009-10.

But the current tone feels more like a courtship than a confrontation. To hark back to the Brexit talks, “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed” – but even this far out from the budget, bargaining is clearly already underway.

John Swinney replies that the proposal on free school meals will certainly be considered in the Budget process for the next financial year.

The first minister says: "We will look at that question."

Image source, Gett

"That's very disappointing to hear about this year, I'll ask the first minister about next year," Slater says.

The Scottish Greens co-leader turns to free school meals and the pledge to roll this out to every pupil in primary schools.

She asks if, given the £3.4bn to be added to the Scottish budget next year, will the first minister reinstate the promise to deliver free school meals for pupils in P6 and P7.

The first minister says it was a "matter of deep regret to the government" that funding had to be removed from those priorities.

He points out the increase in funding for this financial year largely accords with his government's expectations in its internal planning.

Swinney says his expectation is that there will not be new capacity and the resources allocated in this financial year will be required to balance the budget.

It's now the turn of Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater and she too focuses on the Budget, saying that Labour claim £1.5bn will be put back into the Scottish government's budget.

She says this means planned Scottish government cuts need not go ahead..

"Will the first minister commit to using this additional funding, announced yesterday for this financial year, to restore the funding cuts to the Nature Restoration Fund and active travel budgets?"

Slater also asks if the Budget means the Scottish government will no longer use up all the ScotWind funding that is supposed to be invested "in our Green future".

Swinney says the SNP has done the "heavy lifting" of investing in Scotland, listing the school estate and housing as examples.

The first minister says he will continue to do what he has always done as a minister by delivering "careful stewardship" of the public finances to deliver for the people of Scotland.

The Scottish Labour leader once again acknowledges "years of Tory mess" cannot be fixed with one budget and more progress has to be made over the course of a Labour government.

Sarwar says more money is one thing but how the "incompetent" SNP government chooses to spend it is another.

He adds: "More of the same won't cut it."

He asks the first minister if he will end the blame game and financial mismanagement to ensure Scots benefit from the Budget.

SNP and Labour agree on the thrust of the Budgetpublished at 12:35 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October

12:35 GMT 31 October

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

Having effectively defended the budget in his exchanges with Russell Findlay, John Swinney had to damp things down a bit when debating Anas Sarwar.

The Scottish Labour leader pressed on that very point, saying Mr Swinney was “desperate to be disappointed” by the budget but had been left with little to complain about.

Mr Swinney accepted that there were many positives to welcome, and that the budget was “a step in the right direction”.

But he did highlight familiar bugbears in the two child cap - saying 63,000 children will be affected by the failure to remove that by next year – and the means testing of the winter fuel payment.

He also noted that there remains “significant uncertainty” over how public sector employers will be reimbursed for the rise in their National Insurance contributions. That apparently is still being worked out by officials.

The fact that the two parties largely agree on the thrust of the Budget puts them in interestingly similar territory ahead of the next Holyrood election. Both have a big-government outlook, having argued in favour of higher taxes and public spending.

They may well be competing for the same votes in 2026, and both are still feeling out exactly what their approach to that crucial election will be.

The first minister once again jokes: “Mr Sarwar is very, very excited today.”

Swinney says there are many elements of the Budget which are welcome, particularly a reliable source of funding made available for infected blood scandal victims.

He adds he is very pleased the Labour government has done this and it is to their credit.

He adds Sarwar will have to convey his enthusiasm to people other than himself – including those living in poverty because the two-child benefit cap has not been lifted.

Anas Sarwar says Swinney was “desperate to be disappointed” and the Scottish people don’t expect all issues to be fixed with one Budget.

He asks the first minister if he accepts issues will be able to be fixed because people voted to get rid of the “rotten Tory government” and voted for one who would “change the lives of the people of Scotland”.

Glenn Campbell
BBC Scotland Political Editor

There’s a dispute between the UK and Scottish governments over the impact of employers’ National Insurance increases on NHS Scotland and other devolved public services.

The Scottish finance secretary, Shona Robison, has told the BBC she is “seeking urgent clarity” from the Treasury to ensure these additional costs are “fully covered”.

She is seeking additional cash from the UK government to offset the impact.

However, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said the extra £3.4bn for the Scottish government announced in her Budget “takes into account all of those pressures”.

The Scottish government says it needs a further £500m.

The indications from Labour sources yesterday were that there would be further discussions on this point that would result in extra funds being released by the Treasury.

The first minister says he does not think anyone is surprised that Sarwar is “so excited in his questions to parliament”.

He acknowledges the budget is a welcome increase in funding and a step in the right direction but remains conscious there will also be negative impacts for areas like culture, environment and transport.

Swinney says there is currently uncertainty ahead of the 4 December budget about whether public finances will be compensated in full but he will continue to engage with the UK government on these questions.

He adds the chancellor was unable to find funds to put an end to the two-child benefits cap which he “regrets very deeply”.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar is next up.

He begins by praising Wednesday’s budget delivered by Chancellor Rachel Reeves as a “transformative and game-changing budget for Scotland”.

He says the block grant will be £47bn in 2025.

He asks the first minister if he will welcome the budget and the end of an “era of austerity”.

John Swinney says he's delighted with the engagement of Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes in leading the government's approach to investment.

The first minister praises her "dialogue with business".

The tax burden on Scottish business is far too high, argues Russell Findlay.

He urges the SNP to stop raising taxes, but the first minister points out the Tories demand the government spend more money on public services.