STEWART PATERSON

Political Correspondent

THE budget passed by Holyrood yesterday was agog deal for Glasgow for services and households the Finance secretary said.

Derek Mackay had his first budget approved, which he said secured investment for health and schools and for infrastructure to promote economic growth.

Mr Mackay outlined the range of benefits the believed the budget delivered for Glasgow.

He said: “The budget secures investment in public services on a massive scale, meaning increased NHS spending, protection for free prescriptions, free personal care for the elderly, mitigation of the bedroom tax and free higher education.

“Households in Glasgow and the west will continue to benefit from concessionary travel, free prescriptions and public service workers from a modest pay increase. The NHS in Greater Glasgow and Clyde will see funding of £2.12 billion in the next financial year alone and 15 new schools in Glasgow and the West will be operational or in construction in 2017-18 benefitting from £135m of Scottish Government funding.

“We are also investing £60 million in the workforce and infrastructure necessary to begin the expansion of free childcare to 1140 hours by the end of this Parliament.”

The Finance Secretary said the council was receiving a fair deal from the government and extra cash had been found.

Mr Mackay said: “Of course, some of our key public services are delivered by local government and we are delivering a fair and strong settlement for local authorities which is why a further £160 million has been added to the original local government finance settlement. That’s why Glasgow City Council will get an extra £17 million over and above their fair settlement of over £1.3 billion to deliver for the people of Glasgow.”

He said the tax details in the budget protected the incomes of almost all taxpayers.

Mr Mackay’s budget was the first to set income tax rates and bands after power was devolved to Holyrood from Westminster.

He said: “This Budget is historic as it represents the first time ever that the Scottish Parliament has set rates and bands of income tax to represent the priorities of the people of Scotland – freezing tax rates for next year and keeping the higher rate threshold unchanged. It will ensure that 99% of taxpayers will not be paying any more income tax if they are earning the same wage.”

He added: “This is a Budget for Scotland’s future, supporting our economic growth and delivering essential public services for communities across the country.