Funding to support the NHS, reduce carbon emissions and help tackle poverty.
Almost £50 billion was spent by the Scottish Government last year on public services to help tackle child poverty, reduce carbon emissions, support the NHS and secure pay deals, according to newly published official figures.
The Provisional Outturn, which compares actual spending with the funding commitments set out in the Budget, shows that the Scottish Government spent £49.3 billion in the 2023-24 financial year. There was £292 million remaining – representing 0.6% of the Scottish Government’s total budget – all of which has been carried over through the Scotland Reserve to be directed towards priority areas in 2024-25.
In 2023-24 the Scottish Government:
- Spent nearly £5.2 billion on social security benefits. This includes £429 million on Scottish Child Payment, alongside funding to introduce Carer Support Payment in pilot areas, ahead of full roll-out in 2024, and to widen eligibility for Best Start Foods.
- Invested more than £19 billion in health and social care, supporting recovery and reform to secure sustainable public services, while delivering a pay uplift for NHS staff.
- Provided nearly £220 million to the Heat in Buildings Programme to help deliver greener and more energy efficient homes.
- Continued providing Just Transition Fund grant funding, including £16.8 million for projects in the North-east and Moray regions, in addition to £3 million to help vulnerable global communities address loss and damage brought on by climate change.
- Invested almost £422 million on bus services and concessionary fares, providing up to 2.3 million people in Scotland with access to free bus travel.
Nearly £50billion invested in SNP Scottish Government Priorities.
This funding was spent on public services to help tackle child poverty, reduce carbon emissions and to support the Scottish NHS.
Commenting, SNP MSP for Renfrewshire North and West, Natalie Don, said:
“These figures show once again how the SNP Scottish Government is prudently and competently managing the public finances while delivering funding for the things that matter to people across Renfrewshire and the rest of Scotland, not least the NHS and action to tackle child poverty.
“The last year has been extremely challenging for the SNP Scottish Government, with the continued impact of persistently high inflation, pressure on public sector pay, backlogs as a result of the Covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine combined to place pressure on the public finances. However, the Scottish Government has continued to consistently balanced its budgets whilst investing in public services and supporting people through the cost of living crisis.”