John Swinney challenged to fix Scots NHS and schools with £5.8bn cash boost from Rachel Reeves
John Swinney has been challenged to improve public services after it was revealed Holyrood will receive an extra £5.8 billion in funding as a result of the recent Westminster Spending Review.
Rachel Reeves announced last month the UK Government would plough billions more into the NHS across England, a move which triggers additional cash for Scotland via the Barnett formula.
Ian Murray, the Scottish Secretary, said today the Spending Review guaranteed a total of £9.1 billion of extra funding for the Scottish Government.
The £5.8 billion figure is a direct result of a rise in health spending and will be spread across the financial years between 2026/27 and 2029/30.
It comes on top of the highest real terms block grant settlement in the history of devolution at the autumn budget, worth £50 billion a year.
The additional money will form part of the annual block grant awarded to the Scottish Government from the UK Treasury, with Holyrood ministers left to decide how to allocate it.
Murray said: "The UK Government's Plan for Change has delivered the largest real terms settlement for the Scottish Government since devolution began in 1999, and ensured a definitive end to austerity in Scotland with £9.1 billion more for the Scottish Government until the end of the decade.
"That's £9.1 billion over and above record real terms budgets. That's more money than ever before for the Scottish Government to invest in Scottish public services like our NHS, police, housing and schools.
"It is for the Scottish Government to determine how it spends this money. It is notable, however, that almost £6 billion of additional funding has been generated by Health spending, and over £2 billion has been generated by spending on education. Many Scots will expect to see better outcomes in their schools and hospitals given this record funding."
Shona Robison, the SNP Finance Secretary, previously blasted the Spending Review as "business as usual from the UK Government, which is yet again treating Scotland as an afterthought".
She added: "The settlement for Scotland is particularly disappointing, with real terms growth of 0.8% a year for our overall Block Grant, which is lower than the average for UK Departments. Had our resource funding for day-to-day priorities grown in line with the UK Government's overall spending, we would have £1.1 billion more to spend on our priorities over the next three years. In effect, Scotland has been short-changed by more than a billion pounds.
"This all comes on top of the UK Government's failure to fully fund their employer National Insurance increase, depriving us of hundreds of millions of pounds in funding, and their proposed cuts in support for disabled people that will push 250,000 people into poverty, including 50,000 children.
'It is also disappointing that despite apparent briefing to media in advance, we are still awaiting clarity on funding for the vital Acorn project in the North East of Scotland."
The Record asked the Scottish Government for comment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
43 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Parents who lose a baby before 24 weeks to get bereavement leave
Ministers are set to amend the Employment Rights Bill so that people will be entitled to protected time off in the event of a pregnancy loss, regardless of the stage at which it happens. Angela Rayner has said that the change will give 'people time away from work to grieve'. Under current rules, parents are entitled to up to two weeks of bereavement leave if a child dies before they turn 18, or they experience a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy. Amendments to the Employment Rights Bill, will see the right to 'at least one week's leave' expanded to people who lose a pregnancy before 24 weeks. The exact length of the leave will be specified in later legislation after a consultation. The Bill already makes provision to expand bereavement leave, giving employees protected time off to grieve the loss of a loved one. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has said that the amendments will offer 'dignity and respect'. He says: 'For many families, including mine, that have been affected by pregnancy loss, the decision around returning to work or taking sick leave to grieve properly can make an already painful experience even more difficult. The Government has committed to granting bereavement leave to anyone affected by pre-24 week pregnancy loss. This is an important step forward, and we look forward to hearing the detail of how this will be implemented. Find out more: — Miscarriage Association (@MiscarriageA) March 11, 2025 'Grief doesn't follow a timetable, and expanding rights to leave for pregnancy loss will ensure every family gets the time they need to heal without worrying about their job.' Deputy Prime Minister Ms Rayner similarly said that 'no-one who is going through the heartbreak of pregnancy loss should have to go back to work before they are ready'. 'I am proud that this Government is introducing a day-one right to protected time off work after experiencing pregnancy loss, giving people time away from work to grieve and spend time with their families,' she said. Vicki Robinson, chief executive of the Miscarriage Association, welcomed the announcement, saying it was 'a hugely important step that acknowledges the often very significant impact of pre-24-week loss, not only for those experiencing the physical loss, but for their partners too'. It comes after ministers announced they would review the system of parental leave, declaring that the current system is 'not working' for families. Mr Reynolds said the Government will investigate the whole system for supporting new parents to take time off work when they have a baby, including maternity leave, paternity leave and shared arrangements. More than 100,000 Baby Loss Certificates have now been issued More than 100,000 baby loss certificates have now been issued to parents who have lost a pregnancy, allowing them to formally recognise their loss. Baby loss certificates offer a way of providing comfort and support to bereaved parents, who have gone through an unimaginable loss. They provide acknowledgement that their baby existed and mattered. Any parent can now also apply for a certificate following a loss before 24 weeks, or 28 weeks for a loss that happened before October 1992. Support groups have long campaigned for these certificates and have welcomed this news. Health Minister Baroness Gillian Merron said: "Losing a pregnancy can be devastating, and it is important that bereaved parents have the option to formally recognise the existence of their babies. "I would like to pay tribute to the bravery of countless women who have spoken up about their experiences, and to campaigners for their perseverance and great work promoting this service. From meeting with them, I know there is much to do to improve services on the ground. "We will always listen to women and families as we reform our NHS and maternity services, to make sure everyone gets the care and compassion they deserve." Baby loss certificates were first launched in February 2024 but were only available to those who had experienced a loss since September 2018. The voluntary service was extended by this government in October 2024 to allow all parents to apply, no matter when they lost their baby. Sands' Chief Executive Clea Harmer said: "It's wonderful that baby loss certificates have enabled so many bereaved parents in England whose lives have been touched by pregnancy loss to get official recognition that their babies existed and matter. "The certificates are an important part of many people's bereavement journey, and while we recognise they are not something everyone wants, we would like all bereaved parents to have that choice. Sands is here to offer understanding and emotional support for every bereaved parent and family, for as long as they need this."
The National
an hour ago
- The National
SNP selection candidate wins appeal after 'stitch up'
Toni Giugliano, who was in the running to be the party's candidate for Falkirk West at the Holyrood election next year, said that his appeal against the suspension has been upheld. Speaking to The National on Monday, Giugliano (below) said: 'I'm delighted that the SNP's Conduct Appeals Committee unanimously upheld my appeal and dismissed the complaint that led to my removal from the Falkirk West selection ballot, days before the poll closed. (Image: Toni Giugliano) 'I should never have been suspended and removed from the ballot. The committee's report is clear that I was denied a fair hearing. Indeed, I should have been cleared.' He claimed the result was a 'full vindication for the members who voted for me and stood by me', adding: 'I will now consult both with my supporters in Falkirk and the party, about what comes next. 'But make no mistake – our membership is the foundation of the SNP and they must never again be sidelined and disenfranchised. I'm pleased that due process has finally prevailed.' READ MORE: Tony Blair's staff took part in 'Gaza Riviera' project, reports say A complaint of bullying was made against Giugliano just days before the local party voted to choose its candidate for next year's election. He was running against three others and councillor Gary Bouse emerged victorious. But the complaint was dismissed by Giugliano's supporters as a conspiracy to block him from running, with one member telling The Herald in May: 'Toni has been stitched up and the voices of local members totally disregarded.' (Image: Supplied) A statement to SNP national secretary Alex Kerr (above, right) from the Falkirk South branch said: 'The SNP is founded on the principles of democracy and the active participation of its members. 'We are therefore dismayed that Toni Giugliano – a vetted candidate – was removed from the ballot just days before the declaration of results, in a decision that is entirely politically motivated and lacking in transparency." The SNP were approached for comment.
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Work to start on £8 million Gaelic cultural centre on Skye
Work is due to start in the following weeks on the new centre – Ionad Thròndairnis (Trotternish Centre) – which will be built at Flodigarry in Staffin on the North-east peninsula of Skye. The centre will include a large function hall, classrooms for language, music and heritage education, and a significant library and digital archive, with the hopes of creating 10 full-time jobs. The Trotternish Centre will also include a cafe-restaurant and a scalable development of quality accommodation to serve not only the users of the centre, but also address the 'chronic shortage' of bed spaces in Skye. READ MORE: Copper cables worth 'tens of thousands of pounds' stolen from 2 wind farms The Staffin area of Trotternish is an internationally acclaimed site for dinosaur footprints and is also popular with Hollywood, with Ridley Scott's Prometheus and Macbeth, starring Michael Fassbender, shooting in the area. However, for the island locals, Trotternish's greatest claim to fame is its success in maintaining a Gaelic-speaking community, with those involved with the centre hoping it will continue to preserve the language amongst Skye's residents. Margaret Nicolson, chair of Ionad Thròndairnis (The Trotternish Trust), said the centre will be a great boost for the Gaelic community. She said: 'Gaelic is still alive as a community language in this area. I can speak Gaelic to many people, every day, in the shops and in the community. 'There are people moving into the community and – although they don't speak it themselves – very often they will send their children to the Gaelic-medium schools, and so I can speak Gaelic to those children. 'This is still a Gaelic community, and the new centre will be a great boost for the language.' Nicolson added: 'It will give the Gaelic community confidence in their language and culture. 'For visitors and new residents, it will also provide a gateway to the language and the culture, boosting their interest, offering a great opportunity to learn the language or at least explore and enjoy the culture.' (Image: The Trotternish Trust) The Trotternish Trust, which is leading the project, believes that the centre will play a vital role in keeping Scotland's language heritage thriving. 'The new Ionad Thròndairnis will provide a great economic boost,' Nicolson added. 'It will provide around ten new full-time jobs, which is very big in rural Skye, and further seasonal and part-time jobs.' She continued: 'And, as a community-run trust, money will stay in the community.' Although funding has not been fully committed, the trust believes the new centre will fit directly into Government policy, which could see the area designated an Area of Linguistic Significance, with plans for it to be operational by 2028. Linsay Chalmers, director of communities and operations at Community Land Scotland, the lead organisation representing community landowners across Scotland, added: 'This is a great project born of a lot of hard work by a lot of people from the community. "Supporting the rich Gaelic language and culture has always been a central part of our work with community groups. We all know the language adds significantly to the health of the communities where it is still used. 'A place like Trotternish is one of the Gaelic heartlands and it is fantastic that the community has taken the initiative to support and strengthen the language and in turn strengthen the economic and social wellbeing of the north Skye.'
