COLIN BEATTIE MSP: SCOTTISH BUDGET PROVIDES MEANINGFUL SUPPORT TO MIDLOTHIAN NORTH AND MUSSELBURGH’S HEALTH SERVICES

SNP GOVERNMENT IS MITIGATING THE DAMAGE OF WESTMINSTER AUSTERITY IN MIDLOTHIAN NORTH AND MUSSELBURGH
 
Colin Beattie MSP has said that the Scottish Government’s budget will provide substantial support to Midlothian North and Musselburgh’s health and social care services, saying the Scottish Government is determined to act within its limited powers to mitigate the damage of Westminster austerity.
 
The Scottish Budget saw £19.5 billion allocated to the Health and Social Care portfolio in 2024-25. This uplift exceeds Barnett Consequentials for health – which are less than they were for 2023-24 – and represents a real-terms increase in funding of 4.3%, or £550 million.
 
Meanwhile the Spring Budget saw further tax cuts at the expense of public services, no additional capital funding and baked-in cuts which are reminiscent of austerity. The IFS has subsequently warned that the NHS is facing the biggest real-terms cuts since the 1970s as spending plans imply a real-terms cut to net public sector investment of £18 billion between 2024–25 and 2028–29.
 
Commenting, Colin Beattie MSP said:
 
“The SNP Scottish Budget set out to support people and Midlothian North and Musselburgh’s health and social care services amid very challenging economic circumstances.
 
“In stark contrast, the latest Tory budget was a betrayal of Scotland’s NHS, with the Chancellor prioritising tax cuts and doing nothing to address the pressures facing frontline services.
 
“With the limited powers it has, the SNP Scottish Government is determined to protect health services, social care providers and those providing that care in [AREA]’s community; providing a real-terms increase in funding which takes the total to over £19 billion for the year ahead.
 
“Under the SNP, the people of Midlothian North and Musselburgh can always trust that health and social care services will be protected – which is at the heart of this budget.”
 
ENDS