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| John Swinney brings budget plan to Holyrood | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Finance Secretary John Swinney has said he wants the "broadest agreement" on his budget plan. | Finance Secretary John Swinney has said he wants the "broadest agreement" on his budget plan. |
| Mr Swinney set out the government's spending proposals for 2012/13 to MSPs at Holyrood on Wednesday. | |
| For the first time, the SNP does not need opposition votes to get the plan through. | For the first time, the SNP does not need opposition votes to get the plan through. |
| However, Mr Swinney said he wanted consensus and had been talking to opposition parties about taking the broadest possible approach. | However, Mr Swinney said he wanted consensus and had been talking to opposition parties about taking the broadest possible approach. |
| He added that at its heart he wanted the budget to focus on economic recovery. | He added that at its heart he wanted the budget to focus on economic recovery. |
| "The government will do everything in its power to ensure that is the case," Mr Swinney said ahead of the statement. | |
| The Budget Bill, which was was published last Friday, reflects the Spending Review published in September. | |
| It is the first of three stages required before it completes its passage through Holyrood. | It is the first of three stages required before it completes its passage through Holyrood. |
| The bill includes resources to deliver 25,000 modern apprenticeships and a guaranteed training or learning opportunity for every 16 to 19-year-old. | The bill includes resources to deliver 25,000 modern apprenticeships and a guaranteed training or learning opportunity for every 16 to 19-year-old. |
| Urged rethink | Urged rethink |
| It outlines infrastructure projects such as the new Forth Crossing and the new Glasgow Southern Hospitals project, as well as resources to continue the council tax freeze and to maintain police and teacher numbers. | It outlines infrastructure projects such as the new Forth Crossing and the new Glasgow Southern Hospitals project, as well as resources to continue the council tax freeze and to maintain police and teacher numbers. |
| Before last May's Scottish election, the party had to rely on one or more parties to pass any legislation. | Before last May's Scottish election, the party had to rely on one or more parties to pass any legislation. |
| The Conservatives, which supported the SNP after gaining concessions at previous budget negotiations, are arguing for more funding for colleges, action for Scotland's town centres, investment in housing and a reversal of the controversial retail levy. | The Conservatives, which supported the SNP after gaining concessions at previous budget negotiations, are arguing for more funding for colleges, action for Scotland's town centres, investment in housing and a reversal of the controversial retail levy. |
| Labour said the budget did not recognise the scale of the "jobs crisis" in Scotland, and the party has urged a rethink on the approach to the economy. | Labour said the budget did not recognise the scale of the "jobs crisis" in Scotland, and the party has urged a rethink on the approach to the economy. |
| The Liberal Democrats said the additional £400m made available since the publication of the draft budget should be ploughed into colleges, as well as social housing. | The Liberal Democrats said the additional £400m made available since the publication of the draft budget should be ploughed into colleges, as well as social housing. |
| The Scottish Greens called for more college support, greater commitment to climate change plans and a reversal of cuts to public transport infrastructure. | The Scottish Greens called for more college support, greater commitment to climate change plans and a reversal of cuts to public transport infrastructure. |