Kate Forbes to unveil 'most important Holyrood budget since devolution'

Finance secretary Kate Forbes says her Scottish budget today will be “the most important in the history of devolution" as she prepares to unveil her spending plans for the year ahead.

Ms Forbes will set out a £40 billion spending package for 2021/22, including measures to help drive Scotland's recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Support for the public sector and protecting jobs will be at the heart of the plans, the SNP minister says.

Opponents have demanded a budget that is focused on delivery amid claims that announcements of more than £1 billion have resulted in less than third of the promised funding reaching the frontline.

"This is the most important budget in the history of devolution," Ms Forbes said ahead of her announcement in Holyrood this afternoon.

Finance secretary Kate Forbes preparing her speech in her office in Holyrood. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

"It comes as we are tackling a global pandemic and working to mitigate the damaging effects of a Brexit that Scotland did not vote for.

"I must ensure that every penny I have at my disposal makes an impact. The measures I am laying before Parliament today will provide certainty and stability to business, support families and bolster public services, while promoting sustainable growth and creating jobs.

"I hope the Scottish Parliament will support this Budget and help build the fairer, greener and more prosperous Scotland we all want to see."

Her spending announcement was pushed back due to a delay to the UK Government's Budget, which will not now be outlined until March.

The SNP minister has already said that she may have to scale back full rates relief, which many businesses currently receive, until she knows whether the UK Government will adopt a similar measure when Chancellor Rishi Sunak sets out his own plans.

Ms Forbes said her planning had been impacted by a lack of knowledge of UK proposals, as she again called for greater powers to be devolved to Scotland.

Tory leader Douglas Ross said recent SNP announcements of business support totalling £1.25 billion had actually delivered just £358m to struggling businesses on the ground.

He said: “The SNP are skilled at making grand announcements, they’re just dreadful at delivering.

“We need a Scottish budget that puts Scottish jobs and businesses first, not another screed of the same overblown, empty promises we get every year.

“When the SNP announce a headline-grabbing figure, this time they should actually deliver it.

“At this crucial point in the fight to deliver the Covid-19 vaccine and suppress the virus, it’s vital that the national interest comes first, ahead of the nationalist interest.

“Instead of pushing for indyref2 as early as this year, the SNP’s budget should focus on throwing the full weight of the government behind supporting local jobs and public services. Scotland’s priority is recovering from this pandemic, not another referendum.”

Scottish Labour has highlighted the importance of business support in the economic recovery, calling for further help as well as investment in training and skills, combined with increased funding for the NHS and a £15 per hour pay deal for social care workers.

The Liberal Democrats said their focus is on more support for mental health services following the pandemic, and funding for schools to help pupils disadvantaged by the coronavirus crisis.

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