Increase capital funding in spring Budget, Robison urges Chancellor

Scotland’s Deputy First Minister has urged the Chancellor to increase funding for capital projects in his spring Budget.

With the fiscal event due on Wednesday, Shona Robison has again pushed for an increase in funding to the devolved administrations through Barnett consequentials.

The Deputy First Minister – who also controls the purse strings in Scotland – has been criticised for a more than £200 million cut in funding for housing in the recently-passed Scottish budget.

The Chancellor must not repeat the mistakes of the autumn statement – where £27 billion of fiscal headroom was used to fund tax cuts

Shona Robison

But she said in January that housing would be the “number one priority” if extra funding is provided from Westminster following the Budget.

Speaking ahead of the spring Budget, the Deputy First Minister said: “Today the Chancellor must not repeat the mistakes of the autumn statement – where £27 billion of fiscal headroom was used to fund tax cuts – and instead prioritise the investment needed for Scotland’s people and public services.

“Key to that is funding for infrastructure. We’ve already committed £6.3 billion of capital spending as part of the 2024-25 Scottish Budget, underpinning high-quality public services, creating jobs and supporting the economy.