Scottish Government’s income tax rates are progressive, but unnecessarily complicated by taxation bands that are too similar, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
Funding for the Scottish Government’s day-to-day spending in 2021-22 is nearly a third higher per person than in England, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
The UK government refused a request from Scottish finance secretary Kate Forbes for £1.7bn of additional funding to support the Holyrood administration’s Budget for 2021-22, it has emerged.
The Scottish Government has will extend the 100% business rates holiday for the whole of the next financial year, following further UK government funding.
Local authorities in Scotland are set to receive £11.6bn from Holyrood next year, an increase of around 3% – plus £90m to freeze council tax – according to draft budget proposals.
Funding from the Scottish Government will only meet between 60% and 70% of overall financial pressures identified by councils, according to the country’s local government spending watchdog.
NHS Tayside’s high running costs remain a risk, although the health board has improved its financial management, the Scottish spending watchdog has said.
The Scottish Government is to pump an additional £200m of funding into its Affordable Housing Supply Programme next year, to help the construction sector’s recovery from Covid-19.
A new package of funding and financing flexibilities for local authorities in Scotland will allow councils to use capital receipts to meet funding pressures.
Moray Council risks depleting its entire fund reserves in just four years as it attempts to offset annual deficits, the Scottish Accounts Commission has warned.
An £80bn stimulus package is needed to regenerate the economy and reduce inequality in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the Scottish Government has said.
The Scottish Government has called for greater clarity from the Treasury over coronavirus-related funding after last minute grant adjustments left it with £70m less than expected.
A “precautionary” approach to lifting the lockdown in Scotland will limit the risk of a second wave of the virus north of the border, the Scottish Government has said.
The Scottish Government might struggle to balance its budget this year because of funding uncertainty in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the nation’s official forecaster has warned.
Economic output in Scotland could fall by a third as a result of measures to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, according to the latest government commentary.