LTCAS

The Government will continue to invest in jobs and the economy, Finance Secretary John Swinney said on 20 January as the Budget Bill for 2012-13 was published ahead of the Stage 1 debate next week and reflects the Spending Review published in September.

The Bill includes resources to:

• Deliver 25,000 modern apprenticeships and fund the 'Opportunities for All' programme to guarantee a training or learning opportunity for every 16-19 year-old;

• Pass on in full to the NHS in Scotland the Barnett consequentials from increases in UK health spending;

• Prioritise key infrastructure projects such as the new Forth Crossing and the New Glasgow Southern Hospitals Project and create jobs by using a range of measures to maximise investment, such as the 2.5 billion pounds non profit distributing (NDP) pipeline of revenue-financed infrastructure projects and switching revenue spending to support capital investment;

• Give local authorities resources to continue to freeze the council tax and maintain police and teacher numbers;

• Invest in the low carbon economy to cut emissions and create new jobs;

• Implement a shift to preventative spending, encouraging joint working across the public sector to improve outcomes;

• Ensure workers whose pay is controlled by the Scottish Government receive the Scottish Living Wage of 7.20 pounds an hour.

Read more about the Budget Bill 2012-13 on the Scottish Government website

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