WIREDGOV

Initiatives to tackle the climate emergency, support economic recovery and reduce inequalities will be at the heart of this year’s Scottish Budget.

The 2022-23 Budget, which will be presented to the Scottish Parliament on 9 December, will set out how the Scottish Government will forge a path that transitions Scotland towards becoming a fairer, more prosperous and greener country.

Speaking ahead of the Scottish Budget, Finance Secretary Kate Forbes said it comes against a challenging fiscal backdrop and the impacts of the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Ms Forbes said:

“This is a critical time for Scotland - we are still in the grip of the pandemic and families and businesses across the country are bearing the brunt of the cost of living crisis. However, in these times of crisis, we need to go beyond the norm.

“While the pandemic may have defined our lives in recent times, the Scottish Government is determined it does not define our future. The 2022-2023 Scottish Budget that I will present on Thursday is another stepping stone towards a fairer, greener, more prosperous future.

“This Budget will provide certainty and stability for families whilst working to reduce inequalities, the process for which has already begun with the First Minister recently announcing the doubling of the Child Payment to £20 per child per week from April next year, reaching over 105,000 children under age 6 in just four months’ time.  When we extend the Scottish Child Payment to all under 16s at the end of next year, over 400,000 children and their families will be eligible.

“We will also invest in infrastructure that allows us to drive down emissions and create the green jobs of the future that come with the transition to a greener Scotland and set out plans to bolster our economic recovery and support our public services.

“This year’s Budget is set against a challenging fiscal backdrop as a result of the UK Government’s decision to reduce Scotland’s day-to-day spending by removing ongoing COVID funding, despite the continuing impacts of the pandemic. The Budget I will present on Thursday will enable the Scottish Government to make good on our promise to build a fairer, greener Scotland. That is our social, economic and environmental imperative.”