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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Scottish budget: Swinney outlines spending plans | Scottish budget: Swinney outlines spending plans |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Scotland's finance secretary has set out his spending plans for the next two years, insisting they would boost the economy. | Scotland's finance secretary has set out his spending plans for the next two years, insisting they would boost the economy. |
| John Swinney said there would be more cash for housing, despite having his overall budget cut by UK ministers. | John Swinney said there would be more cash for housing, despite having his overall budget cut by UK ministers. |
| He also said the SNP government would help mitigate against Westminster welfare reforms. | He also said the SNP government would help mitigate against Westminster welfare reforms. |
| But the opposition accused him of putting Scotland "on pause" until next autumn's independence referendum. | But the opposition accused him of putting Scotland "on pause" until next autumn's independence referendum. |
| Speaking in the Scottish Parliament, Mr Swinney said his draft budget, funded by a Treasury block grant, would also pay for a national performance centre for sport. | Speaking in the Scottish Parliament, Mr Swinney said his draft budget, funded by a Treasury block grant, would also pay for a national performance centre for sport. |
| And he said the council tax freeze would continue, along with universal benefits like free prescriptions. | And he said the council tax freeze would continue, along with universal benefits like free prescriptions. |
| Mr Swinney told MSPs the Scottish government's conventional capital budget was being reduced by 26.6%, as UK ministers seek to reduce the nation's spending deficit. | Mr Swinney told MSPs the Scottish government's conventional capital budget was being reduced by 26.6%, as UK ministers seek to reduce the nation's spending deficit. |
| Speaking ahead of the independence referendum, on 18 September 2014, he said: "We have a highly skilled workforce, a long-standing reputation for innovation, a respected and recognisable brand, world-class universities and sectors and companies competing at the highest level across international markets. | Speaking ahead of the independence referendum, on 18 September 2014, he said: "We have a highly skilled workforce, a long-standing reputation for innovation, a respected and recognisable brand, world-class universities and sectors and companies competing at the highest level across international markets. |
| "With the full decision-making powers of independence, I should, today, be able to present a budget that puts all of that economic strength to use in building a more prosperous and a more just Scotland. | "With the full decision-making powers of independence, I should, today, be able to present a budget that puts all of that economic strength to use in building a more prosperous and a more just Scotland. |
| "instead, as a result of Westminster's decisions, I must today present a budget constrained by significant cuts." | "instead, as a result of Westminster's decisions, I must today present a budget constrained by significant cuts." |
| Mr Swinney said the draft 2014-15 budget would | |
| The finance secretary also said UK government welfare cuts would take an estimated £4.5bn out of the Scottish economy. | The finance secretary also said UK government welfare cuts would take an estimated £4.5bn out of the Scottish economy. |
| He announced that £20m would be spent this year to support those struggling with UK-wide housing benefit changes, dubbed the "bedroom tax" by critics. | He announced that £20m would be spent this year to support those struggling with UK-wide housing benefit changes, dubbed the "bedroom tax" by critics. |
| But Labour finance spokesman Iain Gray said the amount of money needed to offset the impact of the "bedroom tax" in Scotland was £50m. | |
| Mr Gray also said a slogan used advance of the announcement - "budget for independence" - had been subsequently dropped by Scottish government spin doctors, adding: "It is a budget for independence - a don't-rock-the-referendum boat budget for a Scotland at a standstill on pause. | |
| "It is the wrong priority." | |
| He asked the finance secretary: "Will he take this budget for independence away and bring back a real budget for jobs and a budget which banishes the bedroom tax from Scotland this year, next year and the year after as well." | |
| Conservative finance spokesman Gavin Brown said the budget would "penalise" businesses to the tune of almost £450m, under plans to increase the income from business rates from £2.4bn this year to more than £2.8bn in 2015-15. | |
| He said: "Today's budget should have been about the economy - but as far as the economy is concerned, this is a budget that has both under-promised and under-delivered." | |
| Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said Mr Swinney's budget - which still needs the approval of parliament - was an inadequate response to Scotland's economic needs. |