Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has said ‘despite the financial constraints of Westminster control, services and people in West Lothian have been prioritised in the Scottish Government’s budget for 2022/23.’
West Lothian Council is set to benefit from over £13.2 billion, announced by the Deputy First Minister yesterday, for councils in the Local Government Settlement 2023-23 – a real terms increase of 1.3% since the Budget Act 2022-23.
In what has been described as ‘the most challenging budget settlement since devolution’, John Swinney MSP announced that ‘instead of providing the flat-cash position set out in the Resource Spending Review, [the Scottish Government is] now increasing the resources available to Local Government next year by over £550 million.’
Commenting Fiona said;
“To govern is to choose and the Scottish Government has made its choice. Eradicating child poverty, transforming the economy to deliver net zero and creating sustainable public services will be the key aims of the Scottish Budget 2023-24.
“The people of West Lothian will benefit hugely as this SNP Government has chosen to go beyond the commitments made in the Resource Spending Review and provide over £550 million in funding for local government compared to the Resource Spending Review position.
“We are all aware of the pressure facing Council services which has been created by Westminster economic mismanagement, and Brexit which has led to the current Cost of Living Crisis.
“I am pleased to see the Scottish Government are doing what they can, with the powers they have, to ensure local services have the support they need.”
ENDS NOTES
Scottish Budget: 2023-24