Summary

  • MSPs agree the general principles of the Budget Bill, following the announcement of an SNP/Green deal yesterday

  • 65 MSPs backed the principles, with 54 voting against them

  • The deal includes the setting up of a free bus travel scheme for under-19s

  • Local authorities are to get an extra £95m going

  • £18m goes to police services and £45m to low carbon projects

  1. Lack of workforce plan a 'continuing weakness' says SPApublished at 08:36 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2020

    SPA vice chair David Crichton
    Image caption,

    SPA vice chair David Crichton

    SPA vice chair David Crichton says the Audit Scotland report is fair and the authority has already acted on many of its points, including the creation of a draft corporate plan.

    Over 85% of expenditure is on workforce costs and it is a "continuing weakness" that there is no workforce plan, he accepts.

    This makes it difficult to assess the number and skills of officers requires, he tells the committee.

  2. And we're off...published at 08:33 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2020

    Committee convener Jenny Marra introduces:

    • Scottish Police Authority former chair Susan Deacon
    • Scottish Police Authority interim chief executive Lynn Brown
    • Scottish Police Authority vice chair David Crichton
  3. Background: Former SPA chief Susan Deacon was paid £125,000published at 08:30 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2020

    The former chairwoman of the Scottish Police Authority, who resigned earlier this month, was paid £125,000, it has emerged.

    The authority's annual accounts, external show Prof Susan Deacon received the money in the year to the end of last March.

    When she was appointed in December 2017 her salary was £76,000.

    But earlier this year the Scottish government asked the former health minister to spend 20 days a month in the role as opposed to 12.

    Prof Deacon left the authority saying the way it had been set up to provide oversight of Police Scotland was "fundamentally flawed".

    She also suggested her position had been impeded by political interference.

    The public spending watchdog, Audit Scotland, external said in a report the SPA has overspent its budget by £36m - partly because of increased manpower costs to meet Brexit contingencies.

  4. Scottish Police Authority evidence session begins shortly...published at 08:25 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2020

    Susan DeaconImage source, Getty Images

    The public audit committee will shortly take evidence on the 2018/19 audit of the Scottish Police Authority, external.

    MSPs will quiz former SPA chair Susan Deacon and Chief Constable Iain Livingstone, among others.

    Susan Deacon resigned as chairwoman of Scotland's police watchdog in December, saying the system is "fundamentally flawed".

    The authority overspent by £36 million on a total police budget of £1.1 billion, and it will not achieve financial balance by 2021 as planned.

  5. Welcome to BBC Holyrood Live!published at 15:01 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2020

    SturgeonImage source, Getty Images

    Welcome to BBC Scotland's coverage of the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 27 February 2020.

    The public audit committee will shortly take evidence on the 2018/19 audit of the Scottish Police Authority, external.

    Nicola Sturgeon is quizzed at first minister's questions from noon, just after general questions.

    Then SNP MSP Tom Arthur leads a debate on Scottish war memorials.

    After lunch health and sport ministers face portfolio questions.

    Then MSPs will debate this year's Budget Bill for the first time. The vote will be at 5pm.

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