Budget secures cash for NHS
Last week I voted to back the Scottish Government’s budget for the coming financial year.
The budget was passed by the Scottish Parliament and secures a cash boost for the NHS while offering economic stability in the face of Tory Brexit chaos.
This budget safeguards Scotland as best we can, using all the powers and resources at our disposal.
Despite Westminster cuts of almost £2 billion over the last decade to Scotland’s block resource grant, the SNP has committed £729 million extra for health and care services – with spending on NHS frontline boards rising by £430m.
NHS Lanarkshire is set to receive a £43.2m rise in spending – a 3.7per cent increase on last year and investment in Health and Social Care Partnerships will increase to more than £9b for delivery of primary and community health services.
Direct investment in mental health will increase by a further £27m, while the SNP’s plans also ensure local councils receive a fair funding settlement.
This will deliver a real terms increase in both revenue and capital funding.
As part of the Scottish Government’s plan to almost double the paid-for provision of childcare to 1140 hours from August 2020 for all three- and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds.
The budget also commits £500m to support the expansion of early learning services and facilities across Scotland.
Finance Secretary Derek Mackay also announced an £8b investment in Scotland’s education system, including £120m delivered directly to head teachers – helping schools address the povertyrelated attainment gap.
Colleges will benefit from a £606m investment, while universities will receive more than £1b.
With Westminster in complete chaos, the SNP has delivered certainty and stability for Scotland’s economy with a budget that protects our cherished health service and supports our schools here in Rutherglen and Cambuslang.
However, the passage of the budget comes on the same day as the Scottish Government’s chief economist published a report showing that a ‘No Deal’ Brexit would lead to a major dislocation to the Scottish economy, with the potential for national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to fall by up to seven per cent and up to 100,000 jobs put at risk.
Brexit remains the biggest threat to Scotland’s economy, which is why the Tories should rule out a no-deal outcome once and for all before it is too late.
This Brexit shambles simply reinforces the case for an independent Scotland, where we could take real control of our own future, by continuing to build one of the world’s most successful economies on a firm foundation of strong and dependable public services.