SNP and Tories close to deal on budget

Published on Thursday 8 January 2009 20:59

THE Tories were last night edging towards a compromise deal with the SNP which would see the Scottish Government's budget approved.

The Conservatives are asking for a number of concessions, including the trial of a new bed-by-bed monitoring scheme for hospital-acquired infections and a week of outdoor education for all schoolchildren.

Although the final negotiations are unlikely to be completed until just before the budget vote, in the first week of February, both sides appeared confident of a deal last night.

"We are optimistic. We believe we may see some progress on the bed-by-bed monitoring soon and also on the outdoor education," a Tory source said.

A senior government source also said he believed a deal would be reached, securing Tory support for the budget for the second year in a row.

The Liberal Democrats and Labour are both expected to oppose the budget. Together, they have 62 votes. The SNP and the Tories can muster 63 votes between them, which leaves the Greens and independent MSP Margo MacDonald holding the balance of power.

The Scottish Greens are demanding a massive 100 million-a-year insulation package. The government source said he was "less confident" of getting a deal with the Greens, because they were asking for so much.

It is understood ministers will offer the Greens some progress towards their target, hopefully enough to persuade the Greens to abstain, but not enough to get them to vote for the budget.

But, with Ms MacDonald understood to be prepared to back the budget, ministers are confident that they will get the support they need to get it through.