BUDGET AT A GLANCE

The higher rate threshold will be frozen at £43,430, despite rising to £50,000 in other parts of the UK. This will open up a huge tax gap, with someone earning a salary of £50,000 paying £1,544 more than they would in England. The starter and basic rate thresholds will be frozen.

All the income tax bands will be frozen, meaning a 19 per cent rate will be charged on earnings from £12,500£14,549, rising to 20 per cent for £14,549£24,944, 21 per cent for £24,944-£43,430, 41 per cent on £43,430-£150,000 and 46 per cent on £150,000-plus.

A second homes tax will rise from 3 per cent to 4 per cent from January, hitting people who buy a holiday home, a flat for their child at university or a property to rent out.

Finance Secretary Derek Mackay admitted there could be years of ‘subdued’ economic growth, although forecasts for next year were upgraded.

He said he may need to change his Budget plans if there is a no-deal Brexit.

A controversial large business supplement will not be cut, despite previous promises to lower it when affordable.

A below-inflation .1 per cent increase in the formula used for calculating business rates will be applied across Scotland. Local government was given an extra £210 million – although council leaders claimed they will be forced to cut jobs and services as it is equivalent to a £175million real-terms cut.

The NHS was given a boost of £730million, partially funded by a UK Government windfall of £500million.

Police funding was frozen, while the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service received an extra £5million.

Town centres were given a boost of £50million following a Scottish Daily Mail campaign to Save our High Streets – with Mr Mackay pledging to ‘diversify and develop’ high streets across Scotland.

Public sector workers earning up to £36,500 will get a 3 per cent rise, with those earning between £36,500 and £80,000 getting a 2 per cent increase.

Public sector workers earning more than £80,000 will have pay rises capped at £1,600 – sparking a warning from doctors’ leaders that it could intensify the recruitment crisis among GPs and consultants.

An extra £1.5billion per year for capital projects such as transport, nurseries and broadband until 2021.

State-owned Prestwick Airport is set to get a further £6million loan from the Scottish Government, taking the total of public money given to it to more than £50million since it was bought for £1 in 013.