Tom Arthur MSP has welcomed yesterday’s Scottish Budget, which delivers an inflation-busting increase in NHS funding in Renfrewshire South and fully funds the council tax freeze by increasing funding for Renfrewshire & East Renfrewshire by 5%.
In Holyrood the Cabinet Secretary for Finance Shona Robison set out the Scottish Government’s priorities for the coming year, including:
· Increasing funding to NHS frontline boards by over £550 million, a 4.3% uplift
· Providing over £200 million to ensure every social care and early learning and childcare worker is paid £12, a raise of over £2,000 for full-time workers in Renfrewshire South
· Delivering over £140 million of additional investment in local services, increasing overall funding by 6% taking it to a record high of £14 billion
· Extending the roll-out of free school meals to children in primaries six and seven who receive the Scottish Child Payment
· Providing local authorities with £1.5 million to cancel school meal debt
· Progressing the next phase of the A9 dualling programme
Commenting Tom Arthur, SNP MSP for Renfrewshire South, said:
“This Scottish Budget prioritises our NHS, public services and support for the most vulnerable households in Renfrewshire South.
“Despite Westminster cuts, the SNP government is determined to properly fund our public services and remains committed to closing the attainment gap, alleviating poverty and meeting our ambitious net zero goals.
“The SNP is committed to Scotland’s values of equality, opportunity and community, and in spite of extremely challenging financial circumstances the budget will support households and services in Renfrewshire South that need it most.
“The Scottish Government’s social contract with the people of Scotland is stronger than ever.”