SHONA Robison has said the Scottish Budget will deliver progress for the country’s economy.
The Finance Secretary will deliver the Budget in Holyrood on Wednesday afternoon, with the SNP relying on either support from opposition parties or abstentions to have it passed.
Speaking on Tuesday, Scottish LibDem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said there was “some considerable distance” from the two parties doing a deal.
During a visit to Logan Energy, a leading clean energy technology manufacturer, Robison said: “This will be a Budget that delivers progress for Scotland, by Scotland – laying the foundations for long-term success.
“We will invest in measures to tackle the climate emergency in a way that maximises opportunities to create jobs and provide new economic opportunities for businesses and communities.
“Our ambitions is for Scotland’s green energy to be central to the decarbonisation of transport and industry at home and abroad, and for our expertise and innovation to be providing climate solutions, like Logan Energy, that are made in Scotland and sold to the world.”
The SNP may also look to strike a deal with the Scottish Greens, who have also laid out a series of demands for what should be included in the Budget.
The party has asked for last year’s £4.7 billion climate funding to be maintained and for council budgets to increase.
We also revealed on Sunday how the party has called for the rollout of free school meals to all P6 and P7 pupils and a trial on a £2 cap on bus fares.
The Scottish Greens have also made clear that funding for independence is still a “red line” despite claims from Alba that this was not the case.
Alba meanwhile have also asked for universal free school meals will be part of their terms for supporting the Budget.
The party’s sole MSP Ash Regan (above) has said that “constructive” talks were held with the Scottish Government.
She said: “I look forward to the Budget announcement on Wednesday. What should be clear to every politician is that the people of Scotland are sick of faux principles and backroom dealing.
“Transparency is key to building back their trust, so my constructive, reasonable and consistent approach must be our new path to deliver on the priorities for the people of Scotland.”
Robison added that the First Minister has made clear his focus is on “delivering on people’s priorities” such as “eradicating child poverty, growing the economy, improving public services like our NHS and tackling the climate emergency”.
“Unlike the UK Government’s Budget which treated Scotland like an afterthought, today we will publish a Budget that puts the people of Scotland first,” she said.
“We have listened carefully to the needs and priorities of organisations and businesses, and the people of Scotland.
“This is a Budget that will deliver for them by building on the positive change we’ve delivered for Scotland, creating more jobs, and putting more money in people’s pockets.”
Speaking to journalists, Swinney said the Government is “going into this Budget process in good faith”.
He also previously confirmed that “improving the NHS” would be at the “heart” of the Budget.
Discussing a deal, Cole-Hamilton (above) said: “We’re going to look and see what the detail of the Budget is tomorrow and then we will enter more discussions.
“We are still some considerable distance from any kind of agreement.”
