Budget’s pledge to area’s vital services
Last week, I was proud to vote in favour of the SNP Government’s budget for 2020/2021, which was passed with the support of the Scottish Green Party.
This SNP budget invests a record £15bn in health and care services, including additional resources for social care and integration, mental health support, and tackling the harmful use of illicit drugs and alcohol.
Our police will benefit from an additional £60 million in the next financial year to help keep our local communities safe.
Over £800 million will be spent to deliver our aim of building 50,000 new homes this Parliament.
Scotland’s local authorities will receive a total funding package of £11.3 billion in 2020-21, of which South Lanarkshire Council will receive £492.5 million. The settlement provides our councils with an increase in day-to-day revenue spending of £494 million.
The budget will deliver on our key commitment to almost double the free provision of early learning and childcare this year, funds a fair pay deal for our teachers, and invests more than £180 million targeted at closing the attainment gap.
Investing in vital public services and ending Scotland’s contribution to climate change are at the heart of the SNP’s tax and spending plans for the year ahead.
The Scottish Government will take the radical step of offering free bus travel for under-19s from January 2021, benefitting around 11,000 young people in my constituency.
There’s also increased investment of £270 million in rail services.
No Scottish taxpayer will pay more income tax in 2020-21 on their current income, and for the third consecutive year, more than half of Scottish income tax payers will pay less tax than if they lived elsewhere in the UK.
There’s £3.4 billon for social security spending for those who need it most, including low-income families, and adults and children eligible for disability benefits.
It also delivers Scotland’s unique Child Payment to lift our youngest out of poverty.
And the Scottish Government delivered on COSLA’s call for an extra £95 million for councils.
In voting against the Budget, Labour voted against tackling child poverty, closing the attainment gap, building more houses, and spending more on our precious NHS.
Scottish Labour has no economic credibility.
This Budget is a good deal for Rutherglen and Cambuslang, and a good deal for Scotland.
I’m delighted it has received the support of the Scottish Parliament.