Meeting of the Parliament 12 February 2026 [Draft]
I am very pleased to open this stage 1 debate on the Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill. The budget invests £68 billion in Scotland’s families; in the essential services that support them, such as the national health service; and in the infrastructure that underpins our national prosperity. With the support of members across the chamber, the choices that we have made will be felt meaningfully by people here in Scotland.
This budget will give every primary school child in Scotland the chance to learn to swim; it will establish new high street general practitioner walk-in centres and provide almost £22.5 billion to deliver and reform the health and care services that we all rely on; it will encourage entrepreneurship by providing support and funding to our young future business leaders; and it is expected to leave more than half of Scottish taxpayers with more money as a result of living here in Scotland.
Since the draft budget was introduced, the Government has engaged widely across the Parliament and beyond. We have listened carefully to the views of committees, local government, business, the third sector and wider civic society, and I have valued my constructive discussions with Opposition members and parties across the chamber. As the First Minister noted earlier, such engagement helps to ensure that we have the best support for the people of Scotland. I am therefore very pleased that the Liberal Democrats have confirmed their support for the budget.