Summary

  • The final debate on the Budget Bill takes place ahead of the crucial vote at decision time

  • The Scottish government's tax and spending plans for the next year are expected to pass their final parliamentary hurdle

  • The budget includes major changes to Scotland's income tax rates and bands, which will see middle and high earners pay more and lower earners pay less

  • The minority SNP government struck a deal with the Scottish Greens last month that will give them enough votes to pass the budget

  1. Background: Councils demand government cash for public pay risespublished at 16:52 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2018

    Workers across the public sector have been subject to a pay capImage source, EPA
    Image caption,

    Workers across the public sector have been subject to a pay cap

    Councils have asked the Scottish government for more cash to pay for public sector pay rises.

    Ministers announced an end to the public workers' pay cap as part of their 2018/19 tax and spending plans.

    The budget deal with the Scottish Greens means pay rises will now apply to 75% of public sector staff.

    The Greens' deal also won an additional £170 million for councils, but umbrella group Cosla said pay remains a major issue for local authorities.

  2. Postpublished at 16:51 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2018

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  3. Background: Budget calculator: How will the Autumn and Scottish Budgets affect you?published at 16:39 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2018

    MoneyImage source, PA

    Use our Budget calculator, developed by Deloitte, external, to find out how the tax measures may affect you in the coming year.

    It includes the new Scottish income tax brackets for 2018/19, so you can see how much tax you will pay depending on where you live in the UK.

    Some changes will not be seen until future financial years and are not included in this calculator.

    Click here to use the calculator.

    budgetImage source, bbc
  4. SNP MSP praises NHS for treatment of his brotherpublished at 16:37 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2018

    SNP MSP Tom ArthurImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    SNP MSP Tom Arthur

    SNP MSP Tom Arthur says schools will continue to benefit from attainment funds thanks to the budget.

    The budget sees funding to reduce the attainment gap in Scottish schools increase from £170m to £179m.

    Mr Arthur highlights the extra £400m for the health service - £200m more than the amount needed for NHS spending to keep pace with inflation.

    He also welcomes all public sector pay employees who earn up to £36,500 receiving a minimum 3% pay increase.

    The SNP MSP praises the NHS for the treatment of his brother who sufferred a subarachnoid hemorrhage but is now back at college.

    This is down to the NHS staff and the Scottish government which invests in them, he says.

  5. Postpublished at 16:29 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2018

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  6. Background: Scotland's budget: what does it mean for me?published at 16:27 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2018

    Philip Sim
    BBC Scotland political reporter

    The changes to the income tax system in the Scottish budget mean almost everyone in the country will notice some difference in their lives. But what other big measures were in there, and exactly what will it mean for you?

    Overall, 70% of Scottish taxpayers will pay less, while 55% will pay less than they would if they lived elsewhere in the UK.

    That does, of course, mean 30% will pay more than they did last year - and 45% will pay more than they would if they lived south of the border.

    Income tax table

    There was originally an "anomaly" in the plans which saw some higher earners get a tax cut as a result of changes to the higher rate threshold.

    However this was ironed out as a result of the negotiations between the SNP and the Greens, raising an extra £55m.

    Read more here.

  7. Tory MSP criticises record on health servicespublished at 16:23 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2018

    Tory MSP Miles Briggs

    Tory MSP Miles Briggs focuses his contribution on the budget's impact on the NHS.

    He says a significant part of the Scottish government's health spending is linked to the Barnett formula and praises the UK government for protecting this budget.

    Health spending in Scotland is increasing at roughly half the rate of spending in England, Mr Briggs says.

    He urges Frank's Law (which would extend free personal care to dementia patients aged under 65) to be implemented as a priority, noting cases of dementia are predicted to rise.

  8. Creative Scotland evidence session tomorrow morning..........published at 16:19 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2018

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    Or, in our humble opinion a slightlly better option, join us for extensive coverage of this topical evidence session.

    Creative Scotland chief executive Janet Archer and Creative Scotland interim chair Ben Thomson will be giving evidence.

    Creative ScotlandImage source, Creative Scotland
    Image caption,

    Creative Scotland chief executive Janet Archer

  9. Clash over SNP-Green budget dealpublished at 16:10 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2018

    Labour MSP Colin Smyth and Scottish Green Party co-convener Patrick Harvie clashImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Labour MSP Colin Smyth and Scottish Green Party co-convener Patrick Harvie clash

    Labour MSP Colin Smyth says the inconvenient truth for every SNP and Green MSP is that the budget will mean councils will have to decide which services will be cut and which jobs will be axed.

    Mr Smyth accuses Patrick Harvie of "complete denial" and an "appalling attempt" to blame other parties for not engaging.

    The Scottish Green party co-convener hits back saying his party secured the reversal of £170m of local government cuts and he asks how much change Labour have made to the budget this year or last.

    Mr Smyth says the "undeniable fact" is that increasing burdens on local government and not providing the funds means councils will have to cut services.

  10. Budget delivers for Highlands says SNP MSPpublished at 16:04 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2018

    SNP MSP Kate Forbes
    Image caption,

    SNP MSP Kate Forbes

    SNP MSP Kate Forbes welcomes investment in broadband connectivity and transport for the Highlands.

    The UK government is criticised for only promising 10mb/second broadband, which she compares to the Scottish government's intention to deliver 100% superfast broadband.

  11. Background: MSPs back SNP-Green budget agreementpublished at 15:55 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2018

    Derek Mackay and Patrick HarvieImage source, PA

    The Scottish budget passed its first parliamentary hurdle last month after winning the support of the Greens.

    Finance Secretary Derek Mackay had been in negotiations with opposition leaders to find backing for the plans he first outlined in December.

    A deal was reached on Wednesday 31 January after the Greens won an additional £170m for local councils.

    And public sector pay rises will now apply to 75% of workers rather than the 51% that was originally proposed.

    The revised budget proposals were approved by 69 votes to 56 in the Scottish Parliament, and now move onto the next stage in the legislative process ahead of a final vote next month.

    The Scottish Conservatives and Scottish Labour voted against, but two Liberal Democrat MSPs backed the proposals.

    Read more here.

  12. Postpublished at 15:52 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2018

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  13. Postpublished at 15:50 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2018

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  14. 'Perhaps the most important budget since devolution'published at 15:48 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2018

    SNP MSP and Finance Committee convener Bruce CrawfordImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    SNP MSP and Finance Committee convener Bruce Crawford

    SNP MSP and Finance Committee convener Bruce Crawford says this is "perhaps the most important budget since devolution".

    Mr Crawfod says the budget delivers a "stronger economy and a fairer Scotland".

  15. Scottish Lib Dem leader praises colleagues for work on ferry fundingpublished at 15:47 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2018

    Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie commends his colleagues Liam McArthur and Tavish Scott for saving the inter-island ferries services, arguing if it was not for them, the lifeline service would be struggling.

    All three of the parties are expected to oppose the budget in the final vote, with the exception of the Lib Dem MSPs for Orkney and Shetland, Liam McArthur and Tavish Scott.

    Mr McArthur and Mr Scott are likely to join the SNP and Greens in voting in favour of the budget because it includes additional funding for ferry services in the islands.

    Willie Rennie and his Lib Dem colleagues

    Willie Rennie calls for investment in mental health and education.

    By investing in the skills and talents of people, we can grow the economy for the future, he concludes.

  16. Postpublished at 15:42 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2018

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  17. 'This budget is based on a broken promise'published at 15:39 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2018

    Scottish Lib Dems leader Willie RennieImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Scottish Lib Dems leader Willie Rennie

    Scottish Lib Dems leader Willie Rennie says "This budget is based on a broken promise."

    Mr Rennie says the first minister promised basic rate tax payers that there tax would not go up.

    He says the SNP have broken trust with the voters.

    The rise in unemployment should be a warning for the Scottish government.

  18. Postpublished at 15:37 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2018

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  19. Postpublished at 15:37 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2018

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  20. Local government finance must change says Scottish Greens co-convenerpublished at 15:36 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2018

    Green co-convener Patrick Harvie

    Scottish Greens co-convener Patrick Harvie has written to the first minister with options to consider for local government financing.

    He believes this will stop repeated debates on subsequent budgets focusing on "how much pressure to push down the chain".

    New powers must be created for local government so they are not so dependent on central decisions, the Green MSP argues.

    Mr Harvie confirms this will be a precondition for the Greens to take part in budget negotiations next year.