Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2020 [Draft]

Part of the debate – in the Scottish Parliament at on 10 March 2020.

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Photo of Ben Macpherson Ben Macpherson Scottish National Party

I thank Mr Wightman for his timeous intervention. I was about to say that the overall funding package for 2020-21 includes an additional £95 million of revenue funding to further support spending on day-to-day services, as announced on 27 February, during the stage 1 debate on the Budget (Scotland) (No 4) Bill. It also includes £100 million for investment in health and social care and mental health services that are delegated to integration authorities; £156 million for the teachers’ pay award and £97 million for teachers’ pensions; and £201 million of revenue and £121 million of capital to support the expansion of early years education and childcare to 1,140 hours by August 2020. There is also £88 million to maintain the pupil teacher ratio and to secure places for all probationers who require them. The flexibility for local authorities to increase council tax levels by up to 3 per cent in real terms is worth an estimated £135 million.