Patrick Harvie: Budget must do more to tackle poverty
The Scottish Greens have warned they cannot back the Government’s budget unless more is done to tackle poverty.
Kate Forbes
Kate Forbes pledges to see if ‘compromise’ can be found on care workers’ pay
Finance Secretary Kate Forbes has pledged to see if cash can be found in the Scottish Government’s Budget to give care workers a pay rise.
Forbes urges opposition to back her ‘consensual budget for unprecedented times’
Finance Secretary Kate Forbes has urged MSPs to back her tax and spending plans for the coming year – saying these provide a “solid foundation” from Scotland’s recovery from Covid-19.
Tories call for ‘Barnett formula for councils’
Councils need a system like the Barnett formula to secure their funding from Holyrood, the Scottish Conservatives have said.
Business rates extended again in new lifeline for struggling north east firms
Business leaders have hailed the decision to extend rates relief for the whole of the next financial year and said it could be the lifeline that helps struggling north east firms survive the coronavirus crisis.
Scottish Government extends business rates relief after budget clarity
Some businesses will not pay non-domestic rates in the next financial year, Finance Secretary Kate Forbes has announced.
Applications open for self-employed and close-contact business grants
Financial support schemes for newly self-employed workers and close-contact businesses such as hairdressers and driving instructors have opened for applications.
Aberdeenshire Council agrees to freeze council tax to help residents after ‘incredibly difficult’ year
Aberdeenshire Council has agreed to freeze council tax for the next year.
Budget deal for local councils is fair, insists Finance Secretary
Finance Secretary Kate Forbes has insisted the cash settlement for councils in next year’s Budget is fair – despite claims that she is “short-changing” local government.
Business funds paid out £244m in Covid support in January, says Forbes
A total of £244 million was paid out to businesses through three Scottish Government funds in January, the Finance Secretary has said.
Scottish news publishers face ‘immediate crisis’ as Holyrood ends coronavirus support
Scotland risks being the only European country not to offer a coronavirus support package for its independent news publishers.
Council tax could be hiked 6% after freeze this year, Cosla warns MSPs
Scots could face council tax hikes of 6% in 2022 after Finance Secretary Kate Forbes offered authorities £90 million to freeze the charge in the forthcoming financial year, MSPs have been warned.
Call for Crown Office inquiry as former Rangers administrators get £24m
Murdo Fraser is leading calls for a public inquiry into the Crown Office after the Lord Advocate admitted to malicious prosecution of the administrators of Rangers Football Club.
North-east MP says budget will help Covid-19 recovery
A north-east MP has said the Scottish Government's proposed budget will aid the country's recovery from Covid-19.
Fergus Ewing: Support for rural tourism of utmost importance
There is barely a person, family or business across Scotland that has not felt the acute impacts of living through the pandemic.
Details of funding settlement worth £11.6bn for local councils published
Details of the £11.6 billion funding settlement for local councils over the next year have been published by the Scottish Government.
Scottish Government accused of £440m ‘under-the-radar’ cuts in Budget
The Scottish Government has been accused of making more than £400 million in “under the radar” cuts in its draft Budget.
Scottish ministers granted temporary borrowing powers due to ‘economic shock’
The Scottish Government has been handed new temporary borrowing powers after economic forecasts permitted the move for the first time due to a “Scotland-specific economic shock”.
Budget: Business rates relief ‘scratches surface’ of help needed
A three-month extension of business rates relief will merely scratch the surface of the support needed to keep many north east firms afloat and will provide only a "stay of execution", industry leaders say.
Budget: Kate Forbes told not to ‘waste’ cash on independence referendum preparations
Kate Forbes has been warned not to "waste" taxpayers' money on another independence referendum.
LIVE UPDATES: Scottish workers to pay ‘slightly less’ income tax next year, says Kate Forbes
Live updates as Finance Secretary Kate Forbes delivers the Scottish Budget.
Finance Secretary to outline ‘most important Budget since devolution’
The Scottish Government’s latest Budget will be the “most important in the history of devolution”, Finance Secretary Kate Forbes has said.
Aberdeen baker praises introduction of £25m fund for wedding businesses
A north-east baker has praised the introduction of a £25m fund for wedding businesses.
Prioritise affordable housing in the Budget, Finance Secretary urged
Building affordable housing should be the “cornerstone of Scotland’s recovery”, Finance Secretary Kate Forbes has been told ahead of Thursday’s Budget.
Wedding fund increased to £25million to support industry hit by Covid-19
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced wedding businesses can apply for a share of £25million funding.
£25m fund to support wedding sector opens this week
A £25 million fund to support the wedding sector which has suffered a “severe impact” from the coronavirus pandemic will open to applications this week.
Budget will allow Scotland to recover and renew, says Finance Secretary
This week’s budget will help Scotland to “recover and renew” from the Covid-19 pandemic, Finance Secretary Kate Forbes has said.
Almost half of business owners struggling mentally, survey suggests
Almost half of all business owners are struggling with their mental health because of Covid-19, a new survey suggests.
‘Godsend’ funding announced for north-east taxi drivers
A north-east taxi boss has hailed a new funding package for drivers as a "godsend" after it was unveiled by government ministers.
New grant launched for taxi and private hire drivers affected by pandemic
A new grant will be launched this week for taxi and private hire drivers affected by the coronavirus pandemic.