Austerity appears to be back - FM reacts to UK plan

1. Nicola Sturgeon addresses the Chancellor's Autumn Statement at FMQs saying that the UK government appears to be reintroducing austerity
2. At Westminster Jeremy Hunt outlined his plans saying that the personal allowance, which applies in Scotland, will be frozen for a further two years to 2028
3. Any changes to income tax rates and thresholds north of the border will be announced at Holyrood on 15 December
4. During FMQs, Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross says the future of shipbuilding on the Clyde can only be assured by staying a part of the UK
5. He adds that the Chancellor's statement will see investment in the future of the Scottish economy
6. Ms Sturgeon says the UK government's approach and policies are having a devastating impact on ordinary people and businesses in Scotland
7. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar highlights GP shortages and NHS budget cuts. The FM says she understands the pressures but there is a fixed budget which her government has to work within

Autumn Statement: How are tax and benefits different in Scotland?

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Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is delivering his Autumn Statement and he is expected to announce tens of billions of pounds worth of spending cuts and tax rises.

But some of the changes will not apply in Scotland, as some tax-raising and social security powers have been devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

The Scottish government's tax and spending plans for 2023/24 are due to be published on 15 December.

How much of Mr Hunt's statement will apply in Scotland? Find out here.

How will Nicola Sturgeon react to the Autumn Statement?

Philip Sim

BBC Scotland political correspondent

Everyone at Holyrood is likely to have one eye on the story unfolding at Westminster, where Jeremy Hunt is setting out tax and spending plans which could have huge implications right across the UK.

There is a question on the First Minister's Questions order paper inviting the first minister to react to the announcement, but the Chancellor may well still be on his feet at the point it is asked.

So Ms Sturgeon is likely to provide at best a general response to what has been trailed in advance, as well as any notes which might have been passed into the Holyrood chamber to her.

A more detailed reaction will follow later in the afternoon from John Swinney, with Scotland's finance secretary only a month away from setting out his own fiscal plans.

While some key powers over income tax and social security benefits are devolved, the Autumn Statement will have a significant bearing on Holyrood’s overall budget as well as on those of households around the country.

What can we expect from FMQs?

It will be a strange FMQs this week as the UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is making his Autumn Statement at the same time Nicola Sturgeon will be fielding questions from MSPs.

If you want to follow live updates from Westminster, click here.

The impact of the Autumn Statement on Scotland is one of the questions to be asked from Holyrood's backbenches today, so we will get the first minister's reaction to it in general, if not in great detail.

At Holyrood, there is a fair chance health will dominate proceedings once again, with calls for Health Secretary Humza Yousaf to resign likely to feature.

Welcome

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Nicola Sturgeon will face questions from 12pm

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of First Minister's Questions on Thursday 17 November.

We'll bring you reports and analysis from the weekly political jousting and you can watch or listen with us, just click on one of the play icons at the top of the page.