As I outlined to Parliament yesterday, I wrote to the Chancellor of the Exchequer ahead of the autumn statement to set out the Scottish Government’s priorities for action. I also spoke to the new Chief Secretary to the Treasury this morning, when I again emphasised the need for investment in public services and net zero, and the need to support people with the cost of living. The Welsh finance minister and I previously discussed the need for additional investment in devolved Government budgets with the previous Chief Secretary to the Treasury at the most recent meeting of the finance interministerial standing committee.

It is very disappointing that, today, the chancellor has failed to provide the funding that devolved Governments need, which increases the challenges for our budget next year.