Budget questions

Amid the turmoil of Westminster politics Scotland’s Government was getting on with the day job, as your report clearly indicated as Finance Secretary Derek Mackay brought forth his budget proposals for the coming year (Scotsman, December 13).

And it was refreshing to learn that Scotland is continuing with policies of progressive taxation. No tax breaks for higher earners, instead asking them to pay a little more.

With any budget there are always winners and losers, but in this budget it is clear where the Scottish Government’s priorities lie – further investment in housing (£826 million) to keep on target the Government’s own goal of 50,000 affordable homes in this parliament’s lifetime.

Record investment in our precious NHS (£600m) and large investment (£435m) in our new Scottish Social Security System.

Those investments are vital for any morally responsible society to progress, so it was rather interesting at First Minister’s Questions to hear both the Conservatives and Labour criticise such investments in our public services.

Those opposition parties will have the opportunity in the next month to bring forth

their spending proposals to Holyrood for consideration and I sincerely hope they take this opportunity to give Scotland an insight into what their parties’ spending priorities/ proposals would include.

CATRIONA C CLARK

Hawthorn Drove, Banknock,

Falkirk