SNP ANNOUNCES AMBITIOUS BUDGET WITH RECORD HEALTH FUNDING

SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITIES, JOBS, BUSINESSES AND COVID-19 RECOVERY 

MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Colin Beattie, has welcomed the SNP Government’s ambitious draft budget - which includes record funding of £16 billion for our health and social care service - and urged MSPs from all parties to support it. 

Today, Finance Secretary Kate Forbes announced her budget, which focuses on three key guiding principles - a national mission for new, good, and green jobs; promotion of lifelong health and wellbeing and driving equality and helping our young people to grasp achieve their potential. 

Ms Forbes announced record funding of over £16 billion for our NHS and social care sector, £3.5 billion for social security and welfare payments, and investment of £2.7 billion in education and skills - with total investment increasing by £3.8 billion.

MSPs will vote on the draft budget proposals next month. 

SNP MSP Colin Beattie said: 

“This budget has been delivered in exceptional circumstances as we continue to battle a global pandemic and face the harmful impacts of a Tory Brexit we didn’t vote for.

“Since the start of this crisis, the SNP Government has responded quickly and decisively to tackle the continued threats of the virus, while doing all it can to secure social and economic recovery. 
 
“I’m glad to see this continued commitment to investing in jobs and education, resourcing public services for the challenges ahead - with record funding for our health and social care sector - and supporting households at a time of real uncertainty.
 
“I sincerely hope that MSPs from all political parties will back this Budget, which will support Midlothian and East Lothian’s recovery from this Covid-19 crisis and help us build a fairer, stronger, greener country.”