Fantastic news for our schools
Since my last column in the Blairie, events in the Scottish Parliament have moved very fast and taken quite an unexpected turn.
Much against popular speculation, the Government’s budget has passed the first two stages of its scrutiny. The final stages of setting tax rates and agreeing the budget will take place next week.
The passing of the budget is the key test of the ability of the Scottish Government to govern. It became very clear to us back in 2007 that we could only stay in office as a government without a majority if we could secure support for the annual budget. After five years as a government with a majority, we are now in the situation that was always envisaged for the Scottish Parliament, of working with others to find common ground.
Thankfully, the SNP Government was able to come to a pragmatic and sensible deal with the Scottish Green Party to secure the passage of the budget for the next financial year.
I use the word “thankfully” very deliberately, because the Scottish Greens were the only party to engage in serious discussions about the budget. The Conservatives, the Labour Party and the Liberals did not engage in serious discussions - they just postured from the sidelines playing pathetic political games.
And you need to have serious discussions because without that agreement, funding for our vital public services - our schools, hospitals, police and other services - would be put in jeopardy. All of these services need their financial resources confirmed - and if the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberals had their way, no such provision would have been in place. It is the height of political irresponsibility.
The Scottish budget is excellent news for my constituency in Perthshire North and for our local community. In my constituency, there is a boost to schools of £700,000 directly to tackle the attainment gap, more money for police services, and an extra £4.544 million for Perth and Kinross Council to invest in local services.
The budget delivers record investment in our health services with £304 million in new funding, supports the roll out of superfast broadband, means 100,000 small businesses pay no business rates at all and delivers the funding to dual the A9. The budget freezes income tax rates and asks the 10% highest earners to forego a tax cut.
For our local schools, the budget is fantastic news. To equip our local schools to close the attainment gap and give every child the best opportunity in life, I have delivered the Scottish Government commitment to put new resources direct into our schools. Blairgowrie High School will receive £54,000 in new resources from the Scottish Government with St John’s RC Academy in Perth receiving £45,600. Our local primary schools get a massive boost with Alyth Primary receiving £33,600, Coupar Angus £61,200, Meigle £9,600, Newhill £33,600, St Stephen’s £14,400 and Rattray £50,400. Other amounts will go to the smaller schools.
These are transformative measures and the Tories voted AGAINST every single one of them. All because they refused to ask the 10% wealthiest people in Scotland to pay the same amount of tax they are paying today. The Tories have ill-served the people of this area.
I am glad a responsible SNP Government has been able to deliver a budget that invests in our communities, public services and our economy.
I am glad a responsible SNP Government has been able to deliver a budget that invests in our communities