SNP ANNOUNCE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO KEEP COMMUNITIES SAFE

Local Constituency MSP, Colin Beattie, has given his backing to plans that will hand the Scottish Police Authority £1.3 billion for the coming financial year.
 
Announcing the SNP’s draft budget proposals for 2021/22 in Holyrood last week, Scotland’s Finance Secretary, Kate Forbes, outlined the funding which includes a £60 million budget increase for the Police service.  
 
A further £15m in 2021-22 only, will mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the policing budget.
 
The SNP has surpassed its target to ensure a real terms protection to the Police budget and deliver a £100 million boost by 2021.
 
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) resource budget will also increase by £8.7m.
 
Commenting, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Colin Beattie said:
 
“Scotland is a safer under the SNP, with crime at its second lowest levels since 1974.
 
“In the middle of a global pandemic, protecting our vital frontline emergency services is more important than ever.
 
“The police and fire service provide our communities here in Midlothian and East Lothian with invaluable support, so it’s great news to see they will be handed a funding boost by the SNP Government.
 
“I will be proud to stand on the SNP’s record of keeping our communities safe at the upcoming Holyrood election in May.”
 
Welcoming the announcement last week, David Crichton, Interim Chair of the Scottish Police Authority, said:
 
"The Authority very much welcomes today’s draft budget statement.
 
“We have said consistently that the financial sustainability of policing depends upon addressing a persistent structural deficit. The additional £60 million in revenue funding announced today achieves that.
 
“It represents a strong vote of confidence in the Authority and Police Scotland and particularly recognises the outstanding performance of the police service in protecting the country’s safety and wellbeing during the pandemic.”