Two-child benefit cap to be scrapped in Scotland under SNP’s budget plans
Scotland has vowed to scrap the two-child benefit cap, saying it will lift 15,000 Scottish children out of poverty.
Scotland’s finance secretary Shona Robison also committed to a record investment in the NHS as she unveiled the nation’s draft budget for the coming year in a speech at Holyrood.
The MSP previously said the budget would put “the people of Scotland first”.
Ms Robison told the chamber on Wednesday: “This budget invests in public services, lifts children out of poverty, acts in the face of the climate emergency, and supports jobs and economic growth.
“It is a budget filled with hope for Scotland’s future.”
Highlights from the draft budget:
• The Scottish government will mitigate the impact of the UK government’s two-child benefit cap. Ms Robison has urged Westminster to provide the necessary data to allow for the change to be made. She said: “Let me be crystal clear, this government is to end the two-child cap and in doing so will lift over 15,000 Scottish children out of poverty.”
• The nation’s NHS will receive a record £21bn for health and social care – an increase of £2bn for frontline NHS boards. The investment comes as spending watchdog Audit Scotland warned the NHS is unsustainable in its present state, with a fundamental change “urgently needed”.
• Almost £200m will be invested to reduce NHS waiting times. Ms Robison said by March 2026, no one will wait longer than 12 months for a new outpatient appointment, inpatient treatment or day-case treatment.
• The SNP has ditched its flagship council tax freeze. Local authority funding will be increased by more than £1bn, taking the total amount to more than £15bn. Ms Robison said while it is up to the local authorities to make their own decisions with the funding, there is “no reason for big increases in council tax next year”.
• More than £300m of ScotWind revenues will be invested in jobs and in measures to meet the climate challenge.
• £768m will be invested into affordable homes, enabling more than 8,000 new properties for social rent, mid-market rent and low-cost home ownership to be built or acquired this coming year.
• The Scottish government will also work with the City of Edinburgh Council to “unlock” more than 800 new net zero homes at the local authority’s Granton development site.
• New funding of £4m will be invested to tackle homelessness and for prevention pilots.
• An additional £800m will be invested into social security benefits.
• More than £2.5m will be delivered to support actions within the Disability Equality Action Plan.
• Spending on education and skills will increase by 3% over and above inflation, an uplift of £158m.
• £120m will be provided to headteachers to support initiatives designed to address the poverty-related attainment gap.
• Free school meals will also be expanded to primary 6 and 7 children from low-income families.
• A new initiative titled “bright start breakfasts” will be funded to help deliver more breakfast clubs in primary schools across the country.
• £29m will be invested into an additional support needs (ASN) plan, which will help maintain teacher numbers at 2023 levels and additionally train new ASN teachers.
• Almost £4.2bn will be invested across the justice system. The funding will seek to maintain police numbers. An additional £3m will be made available to help mitigate retail crime amid shoplifting concerns.
• £4.9bn will be invested to tackle the climate and nature crises.
• £25m will be allocated to support the creation of new jobs in the green energy supply chain in Scotland. And to help people at home and work, £300m will be invested in upgrading heating and insulation.
• £90m will be invested to protect, maintain and increase the nation’s woodlands and peatlands.
• £190m will be made available to boost bus services and to make it easier for people to walk, wheel or cycle. The electric vehicle charging network is also to be expanded.
• Almost £1.1bn will be used to maintain and renew the nation’s rail infrastructure.
• £237m will be invested to maintain and improve the nation’s ports, as well as deliver a “more resilient and effective ferry fleet”.
• In rural communities, more than £660m will be used to support farmers, crofters and the wider economy.
• The culture budget will increase by £34m.
• Income tax rates in Scotland have been frozen until 2026.
• The SNP had already confirmed it intends to restore a universal winter fuel payment for pensioners next year. Those in receipt of pension credit or other benefits will receive a £200 or £300 payment, depending on their age. All other pensioners will receive a reduced payment of £100.
First Minister John Swinney and Ms Robison at Holyrood on Wednesday. Pic: PA
The Scottish budget is largely funded through the block grant alongside taxes raised north of the border.
Holyrood has an additional £3.4bn to spend in 2025-26, thanks to cash announced by UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves in her budget in October – taking the overall settlement to £47.7bn.
However, the Scottish budget for 2023-24 amounted to around £59.7bn.
Holyrood ministers are legally obliged to balance the books and have limited borrowing powers with which to raise additional funds.
The draft budget will be scrutinised in the Scottish parliament over the coming weeks before an expected vote in February, where the SNP will need to garner support from outside its minority administration for it to pass.
Read more from Sky News:
PM refuses to reveal what he was told about Louise Haigh phone ‘theft’
Bank of England governor frets over impact of budget and Trump’s return
Ms Robison during a visit to Logan Energy in Edinburgh earlier on Wednesday. Pic: PA
Following her statement, Ms Robison said she was looking forward to working with the opposition parties.
She added: “I am proud to present a budget that delivers on the priorities of the people of Scotland.
“Parliament can show that we understand the pressures people are facing.
“We can choose to come together to bring hope to people, to renew our public services, and deliver a wealth of new opportunities in our economy.”
In response, the Scottish Greens said it will not back the proposed budget “as things stand”.
Ross Greer, the party’s finance spokesperson, cited its failure to expand free school meals for all P6 and P7 pupils.
The MSP said: “The government has agreed to more modest Green proposals like free ferry travel for young islanders, free bus travel for asylum seekers and higher tax on the purchase of holiday homes, but these measures are not nearly enough to make up for the cuts elsewhere.
“Big changes will be needed if they expect the Scottish Greens’ support.”
IPPR Scotland welcomed the intention to scrap the two-child benefit cap, as did Oxfam Scotland.
However, the charity criticised the Scottish government’s failure to implement a tax on “pollution spewing private jets” and is calling on ministers to “turbocharge talks with the UK government in order to give the tax clearance for take-off as soon as possible”.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Conservatives branded it “more of the same from the SNP”.
Craig Hoy, the party’s shadow cabinet secretary for finance, said: “Taxpayers are paying the price for years of SNP waste on ferries, gender reforms, failed independence bids, and a National Care Service that has already cost £30m.”
The MSP said the NHS is on its knees and needed “urgent reform”.
He added: “The extra funding is welcome but our NHS needs more than money, it needs leadership and a serious plan to reduce waiting lists, yet the SNP’s only proposal is rehashing a previous broken promise.
“The Nationalists have no vision for the future of the country and it’s clear John Swinney is out of ideas.”
The Scottish Tories also said the two-child benefit cap is “necessary”.
MSP Liz Smith, the party’s shadow social security secretary, said: “Social security payments must be fair to people who are struggling and to taxpayers who pick up the bill.
“We believe the two-child cap is necessary and the right approach at this time.
“The rapidly rising benefits bill is currently unsustainable as a direct consequence of the SNP’s high tax rates and mismanagement of our economy and public finances.”
Police in New York are hunting a gunman who shot dead a healthcare executive outside a hotel in what was a “brazen targeted attack”.
Brian Thompson, who had been the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare since April 2021, was killed outside the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan.
The gunman, who was wearing a face mask, was lying in wait for about five minutes before he approached the 50-year-old victim from behind.
Mr Thompson had been in his role for three years. Pic: UnitedHealthcare/AP
He opened fire several times, shooting him in the back and leg. He then walks towards Mr Thompson and continues to shoot.
Police said the weapon jammed during the attack, which happened at around 6.45am local time on Wednesday. But the shooter cleared the jam and started firing again.
The suspect then fled on foot before getting on a GPS-tracked e-bike and was last seen in Central Park.
Mr Thompson, who lived in Minnesota, was taken to a nearby hospital but could not be saved.
Police are still searching for the suspect and are offering a $10,000 (£7,866) reward for information. Officers also said they did not yet have a motive for the shooting.
Photos taken from CCTV footage shows a man wearing a grey backpack riding a bicycle, and another photo of the individual appearing to be pointing a gun.
An image of the individual sought in connection to the investigation of the shooting of Brian Thompson. Pic: NYPD/Reuters
Pic: NYPD/Reuters
The suspect was described as a light-skinned male, wearing a light brown or cream coloured jacket, a black face mask, black and white trainers and distinctive grey rucksack.
Police said there was another person standing next to Mr Thompson when he was attacked outside the hotel, and are in the process of identifying them.
New York City’s police commissioner Jessica Tisch said the shooting was a “brazen, targeted attack”.
“This does not appear to be a random act of violence. Every indication is that this was a premeditated, pre-planned, targeted attack,” she said.
Who was Brian Thompson?
Brian Thompson was the boss of UnitedHealth’s insurance division.
He had been at the company, in various roles, for 20 years and had served in his current job since 2021.
Mr Thompson worked under group chief executive Sir Andrew Witty, the experienced British executive best known in the UK for his tenure in charge at pharmaceutical firm GlaxoSmithKline in the early 2000s.
UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare health insurance plans in the United States – policies that holders generally find cause to complain about industry-wide.
Medicare plans cover people aged 65 or older and younger people with disabilities.
America’s healthcare insurance costs rank as the most expensive in the world.
The firm also manages health insurance for companies.
Mr Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, said that he had been receiving threats.
“There had been some threats,” she said in a phone call to Sky’s US partner network, NBC News. “Basically, I don’t know, a lack of coverage? I don’t know details. I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him.”
“I can’t really give a thoughtful response right now. I just found this out and I’m trying to console my children,” she added.
Pic: Reuters
Police officers stand near the scene where the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare Brian Thompson was shot and killed in Midtown Manhattan. Pic: Reuters
The attack happened as the company was scheduled to have its annual meeting with investors on Wednesday morning in the Hilton. Mr Thompson had arrived in New York on Monday to attend the meeting and was staying in a hotel opposite the Hilton.
It is understood Mr Thompson was in charge of organising the conference and was due to speak at the meeting.
Bullets lie on the footpath of the scene outside the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan. Pic: AP
A member of the NYPD Crime Scene Unit takes a picture of a shell casing found at the scene. Pic: Reuters
“We’re dealing with a very serious medical situation with one of our team members, and as a result, I’m afraid we’re going to have to bring to a close the event today,” UnitedHealth’s chief executive Sir Andrew Witty said.
The suspect was described as using a firearm with a silencer, CNBC reported, citing a person familiar with the incident.
UnitedHealthcare is the insurance arm of the healthcare giant UnitedHealth Group.
The scene after Brian Thompson was fatally shot in New York. Pic: AP
Pic: Reuters
Members of the NYPD Crime Scene Unit work near evidence markers placed where shell casings were found. Pic Reuters
In a statement, it said: “Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him. We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.
“Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and all who were close to him.”
There have been no arrests, and the investigation is active and ongoing.
The scene of the shooting is a short walk from tourist sites such as the Museum of Modern Art and Rockefeller Centre. The popular Rockefeller Centre Christmas tree lighting is set to take place Wednesday evening.
Business reaction to the budget is the “biggest issue” facing the Bank of England, according to its governor – while he also contemplates the impact of Donald Trump’s looming return to the White House.
Andrew Bailey told an event the future was clouded by domestic and global “uncertainty”, making it difficult to predict the effect on the UK economy, particularly around inflation.
He was speaking at the Financial Times’ Global Boardroom just a fortnight before the Bank is due to make its next interest rate decision.
The prospects for a third cut this year are grim, with financial markets betting there will be no change.
Money latest: Taxman issues clarification on selling items online
All the mood music coming from Mr Bailey and his fellow rate-setters over the past few weeks has been cautionary, with the bulk of public commentary talking of the need for a “gradual” approach.
The Bank is worried by a recent surge in inflation that has taken the rate back above its 2% target.
Forecasts suggest it will keep going up in the coming months, towards 3% from 2.3% currently, amid renewed pressure from energy and services costs.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Inflation expected to rise, Bank of England says in November
Another headwind is the pace of wage growth which, the Bank fears, will stoke inflation by boosting demand in the economy.
Mr Bailey said it was not yet clear what effect the hike to employer National Insurance contributions, announced in the budget and set to take effect in April, would have.
“I think the biggest issue now in the immediate future is the response to the National Insurance change; how companies balance the mixture of prices, wages, the level of employment, what is taken on margin, is an important judgement for us,” he said.
The budget raised employers’ National Insurance contributions by 1.2 percentage points to 15% and also lowered the threshold for when firms start paying to £5,000 from £9,100 per year.
Read more:
Bank of England sees 4.4 million homes paying higher mortgages
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
CBI chief’s approach to budget tax shock
Businesses have responded by claiming it will hit wage settlements, investment and jobs.
They have also warned that the cost increases will be passed on to customers, potentially stoking inflation.
The retail sector alone says it faces an additional £7bn burden in 2025 from the changes while hospitality expects a £3.5bn hit. Both are major employers.
While weaker pay settlements could help the Bank bring down borrowing costs through interest rate cuts, policymakers will be worried about the threat of higher prices in shops, bars and restaurants.
Mr Bailey said the Bank had laid out a “range of options” analysing the potential economic impact, “some of which would imply greater inflation and some of which would imply less inflation”.
“So there is uncertainty there and we need to see how the evidence evolves,” he said.
Read more from Sky News:
First rail companies to be nationalised are revealed
The market town named the happiest place to live
The other global pressure he spoke about was the impact of the Trump presidency from late January.
The governor said the Bank was analysing the possible effects of threatened trade policies on the UK.
Mr Trump has warned of tariffs covering all US imports as part of his agenda to protect US industry and jobs.
Mr Bailey said of such a scenario that it clearly “moves trading prices but it also depends on how other countries react to them, and how exchange rates react to them as well”.
He did not disagree, in an FT interview, that further interest rate cuts could be expected next year.
Financial markets are expecting up to four, barring any further shocks.
Mr Bailey described the process of falling inflation as being “well embedded”.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports8 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway