Draft Budget 2016-17

Part of the debate – in the Scottish Parliament at on 16 December 2015.

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Photo of John Swinney John Swinney Scottish National Party

I set out in my statement a number of areas in which we are essentially operating in welfare mitigation territory, whether it be the council tax reduction scheme, the bedroom tax or the establishment of the Scottish welfare fund. I set out to Parliament a challenging financial settlement because of the pressures with which we are wrestling and the reductions in our budget. We have made our choices to protect individuals who are affected by the welfare cuts to the best of our ability, and will continue to do so. A range of further powers will come to the Scottish Government in due course, and we will find the most effective and appropriate ways to take decisions to exercise those powers to support vulnerable individuals.