Chamber
Plenary, 05 Oct 2000
05 Oct 2000 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
First Minister's Question Time
Public Spending
SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
As Michael McMahon knows, public spending will increase by £1.2 billion, £2.3 billion and £3.4 billion over the three years to 2003-04 cumulatively. That will have a substantial impact on the provision of services in Scotland. That spending has been widely welcomed and is dramatic. Health spending will increase by nearly 15 per cent by 2003-04, justice spending by nearly 13 per cent, transport spending by 45 per cent and education spending by 17 per cent. Those are substantial results, and there will be a multiplier effect, particularly in local government but also in many other areas of employment, which I think will be widely welcomed.
In the same item of business
4. Mr Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab):
Lab
To ask the First Minister what assessment has been made by the Scottish Executive of the impact of increased public spending. (S1F-588)
The First Minister (Donald Dewar):
Lab
As Michael McMahon knows, public spending will increase by £1.2 billion, £2.3 billion and £3.4 billion over the three years to 2003-04 cumulatively. That wil...
Mr McMahon:
Lab
I join the First Minister in welcoming the positive impact of the Scottish Executive's spending strategy. Does he agree that the alternative of cutting publi...
The First Minister:
Lab
I certainly agree with Michael McMahon about that. At the moment we are faced with a debate that has a certain air of unreality about it. We have a bid on th...
Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Will the First Minister confirm that, at the end of the period to which he referred, Labour will be investing a lower proportion of the national wealth in pu...
The First Minister:
Lab
I will certainly look very carefully at that. However, I can tell Andrew Wilson that, in real terms, the level of public spending will be higher than ever be...