Image source, Transport Focus

Here are some of the measures and increases in funding arising from the budget deal:

• Scottish government is to set up a free bus travel scheme for under-19s by January 2021
• an extra £95m going to local authorities
• £18m to police services: £13m for frontline services and £5m for capital investments
• £45m to low carbon projects, including energy efficiency projects and active travel
• review plans to upgrade the Sheriffhall roundabout, external on the Edinburgh bypass

The changes will be paid for using underspends, longer term income from non-domestic rates and the fossil fuel levy.

The finance secretary says there is a need to look beyond narrow GDP measures and towards wider societal impacts of growth, including wellbeing.

Growth is still important but it must be shared and sustainable, she states.

Ms Forbes says it is important to recognise the risks created by the UK government and its delayed spending plans.

Coronavirus will also have an impact on financial decisions she adds, confirming she is engaging with UK and devolved finance ministers on cost implications.

Finance Secretary Kate Forbes begins saying she is sure everybody is delighted to be nearing the finish line of the budget process.

Ms Forbes thanks everyone for their efforts during this truncated time for consideration of the budget.

She argues her budget gives the parliament the fiscal firepower it needs

"This is a budget that delivers for all of Scotland," Ms Forbes adds.

Image source, bbc

Finance Secretary Kate Forbes will now call on MSPs to back her budget, after they have the chance to debate it for the final time.

The budget is expected to pass after a deal was struck between the Greens and the SNP last week.

Last night the government's Scottish Rate Resolution, setting income tax for 2020/21, was agreed to.

Image source, PA Media/Getty Images

The Scottish government is to set up a free bus travel scheme for under-19s as part of an SNP-Green budget deal.

The agreement between the two parties will also see extra funding going to local government and the police.

Finance Secretary Kate Forbes said free bus travel would be a "step change" in supporting young people and helping tackle climate change.

MSPs will vote on the budget for the first time on Thursday, with the tax and spending plans now certain to pass.

• Read more here
• MSPs agree the principles of the budget
• No changes to tax rates in Scottish budget

• Scottish finance secretary quits over messages to boy

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Last week the MSPs agreed the general principles of the Budget (Scotland) (No.4) Bill, external, with the backing of the SNP and the Greens following a deal that was struck yesterday.

65 MSPs voted for it and 54 voted against, with the other opposition parties refusing to back the budget it.

The Scottish government is to set up a free bus travel scheme as part of an SNP-Green budget deal.

The agreement between the two parties will also see extra funding going to local government and the police.

• Read more here
• No changes to tax rates in Scottish budget
• Scottish finance secretary quits over messages to boy

Finance Secretary Kate Forbes says she has had numerous meetings with UK counterparts about the risks of a delayed UK budget.

Mr Kidd says Barnett consequentials have been estimated based on 2019 general election commitments, which shows a complete disregard for Scotland.

Ms Forbes agrees, adding the financial risk is increased as a result.

Image source, Getty Images

The new chancellor must raise taxes in his first Budget on March 11 or break the government's rules on borrowing, a leading economic think tank has warned.

Rishi Sunak is under pressure to increase spending on the NHS, social care and schools.

He has also inherited a fiscal target from his predecessor Sajid Javid to bring spending in to balance by 2022.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies has suggested this will not be possible without increasing taxes.

Read more here.

SNP MSP Bill Kidd asks ask the Scottish government what engagement it has had with Treasury ministers regarding the impact of the UK budget on Scotland's finances.

Here's the rest of the finance questions, external.

Image source, Getty Images

• Scottish GDP is forecast to grow by 1% in 2020 and by 1.1% in 2021
• Employment is expected to remain broadly level at 2.67 million, with an unemployment rate of 4%
• Average earnings are forecast to grow by 3% in 2020 and by 3.1% in 2021
• The projections are based on the Scotland's Economic and Fiscal Forecasts, external document drawn up by the Scottish Fiscal Commission

Image source, Scottish Parliament

MSPs asks the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body questions.

Check out the questions here., external

Earlier Labour MSP Neil Findlay led a debate praising the success of Whitburn Academy’s pupil-led Be Herd group, which aims to raise awareness of, and remove, stigma regarding mental health issues.

The first minister replies that Scottish Enterprise is managing its budget well and the forthcoming total funding for the organisation in 2020/21 will be £340m.

Ms Baillie says she fears the first minister has been misinformed, adding the the budget for 2020/21 has been cut by almost £41m and says there is no new money to address the impact of Brexit, never mind coronavirus.

The first minister says Scottish Enterprise has a fantastic track record and they will continue to have that track record next year and beyond.

Labour MSP Jackie Baillie asks for what reason Scottish Enterprise has suspended new grant funding for business.

Image source, Peter Sandground

From the Sunday Mail, external...

"Scotland’s business grants quango is in financial crisis after admitting it has run out of money.

"Scottish Enterprise chief executive Steve Dunlop emailed staff earlier this month, ordering them to freeze all future support grants and slash internal budgets.

"Opposition politicians have reacted angrily, claiming cuts at the taxpayer-funded agency could cripple small businesses and impact on economic growth.

"Dunlop’s memo – seen by the Sunday Mail – explains that “unforeseen factors” have left the organisation financially crippled with over a month remaining of the financial year."

Image source, bbc

Ms Sturgeon says council tax reduction schemes help people on low incomes.

She recommends that people struggling with council tax debt contact Citizens Advice Scotland and their council to see what support is available.

Mr Simpson suggests councils are having to raise taxes due to cuts from the Scottish government.

The Tory MSP says we now have people in "council tax poverty" while the number of people using the reduction scheme have been falling. He calls for promotion of it.

The first minister says if council budgets are under pressure it is because of a decade of Tory austerity.

Council tax was frozen by the SNP for a decade she says, before adding that the Scottish government has measures to support those on low incomes.

Green MSP Andy Wightman says council tax remains the most regressive tax in the UK and calls for it to be scrapped.

Ms Sturgeon agrees the present system should end and if agreement is found legislation will be published by the end of this parliament, with it to be taken forward by the next parliament.

Tory MSP Graham Simpson seeks a response to Citizens Advice Scotland’s statement that council tax is the “number one debt issue” it deals with.

Image source, Getty Images

A campaign has been launched to help people struggling to pay their council tax as it emerged those seeking help owed £6.9m in unpaid bills.

It comes as Citizens Advice Scotland revealed the average debt of the 2,250 people it helped last year was £3,102.

Unpaid council tax, it said, was the "number one debt issue" its advisors dealt with.

Read more.

Image source, bbc

Ms Sturgeon returns to her response to the question from Gillian Martin and says the agricultural sector is hugely important.

Ms Martin says there have been worrying comments from the Treasury that the agriculture and fishing sectors are of low value.

She asks if the first minster agrees that the UK government will do nothing to support our food producing industries.

Ms Sturgeon says the comments reported in the press were "utterly deplorable" and are not shared by this government.

We highly value both sectors, she says and points to recent convergence payments from the Scottish government.

Image source, bbc

SNP MSP Gillian Martin asks how important the Scottish government considers the agricultural sector is to the country's economy, society and international reputation.