Budget (Scotland) Act 2024

2024 asp 3

The Bill for this Act of the Scottish Parliament was passed by the Parliament on 27th February 2024 and received Royal Assent on 28th March 2024

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision, for financial year 2024/25, for the use of resources by the Scottish Administration and certain bodies whose expenditure is payable out of the Scottish Consolidated Fund, for the maximum amounts of borrowing by certain statutory bodies and for authorising the payment of sums out of the Fund; to make provision, for financial year 2025/26, for authorising the payment of sums out of the Fund on a temporary basis; and for connected purposes.

Part 1 Financial year 2024/25

Use of resources etc.

1 The Scottish Administration

(1) The Scottish Administration may use resources in financial year 2024/25 for the purposes specified in column 1 of schedule 1—

(a) in the case of resources other than accruing resources, up to the amounts specified in the corresponding entries in column 2 of that schedule,

(b) in the case of accruing resources, up to the amounts specified in the corresponding entries in column 3 of that schedule.

(2) Despite paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1), the resources which may be used for a purpose specified in column 1 may exceed the amount specified in the corresponding entry in column 2 or (as the case may be) column 3 if—

(a) in the case of resources other than accruing resources, the first condition is met,

(b) in the case of accruing resources, the second condition is met.

(3) The first condition is that the total resources (other than accruing resources) used in financial year 2024/25 for all purposes specified in column 1 does not exceed the total of the amounts specified in column 2.

(4) The second condition is that the total accruing resources used in financial year 2024/25 for all purposes specified in column 1 does not exceed the total of the amounts specified in column 3.

2 Direct-funded bodies

(1) A direct-funded body may use resources in financial year 2024/25 for the purposes specified in column 1 of schedule 2 in relation to the body.

(2) Resources other than accruing resources may be used for those purposes up to the amounts specified in the corresponding entries in column 2 of that schedule.

(3) Accruing resources may be used for those purposes up to the amounts specified in the corresponding entries in column 3 of that schedule.

3 Borrowing by statutory bodies

In schedule 3, the amounts set out in column 2 are the amounts specified for financial year 2024/25 for the purposes of the enactments listed in the corresponding entries in column 1 (which make provision as to the net borrowing of the statutory bodies mentioned in that column).

The Scottish Consolidated Fund

4 Overall cash authorisations

(1) For the purposes of section 4(2) of the PFA Act 2000, the overall cash authorisations for financial year 2024/25 are as follows.

(2) In relation to the Scottish Administration, £54,785,698,458.

(3) In relation to the direct-funded bodies—

(a) the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, £126,521,000,

(b) Audit Scotland, £12,362,000.

5 Contingency payments

(1) This section applies where, in financial year 2024/25, it is proposed to pay out of the Scottish Consolidated Fund under section 65(1)(c) of the Scotland Act 1998—

(a) for or in connection with expenditure of the Scottish Administration, a sum which does not fall within the amount specified in section 4(2) in relation to it, or

(b) for or in connection with expenditure of a direct-funded body, a sum which does not fall within the amount specified in section 4(3) in relation to the body.

(2) The sum may be paid out of the Fund only if its payment is authorised by the Scottish Ministers.

(3) The Scottish Ministers may authorise payment of the sum only if they consider that—

(a) the payment is necessarily required in the public interest to meet urgent expenditure for a purpose falling within section 65(2) of the Scotland Act 1998, and

(b) it is not reasonably practicable, for reasons of urgency, to amend the overall cash authorisation by regulations under section 7.

(4) But the Scottish Ministers must not authorise payment of the sum if it would result in an excess of sums paid out of the Fund over sums paid into the Fund.

(5) The aggregate amount of the sums which the Scottish Ministers may authorise to be paid out of the Fund under this section must not exceed £50,000,000.

(6) Where the Scottish Ministers authorise a payment under this section they must, as soon as possible, lay before the Scottish Parliament a report setting out the circumstances of the authorisation and why they considered it to be necessary.

Part 2 Financial year 2025/26

6 Emergency arrangements

(1) This section applies if, at the beginning of financial year 2025/26, there is no overall cash authorisation for that year for the purposes of section 4(2) of the PFA Act 2000.

(2) Until there is in force a Budget Act providing such authorisation, there is to be taken to be an overall cash authorisation for each calendar month of that year in relation to each of—

(a) the Scottish Administration,

(b) the direct-funded bodies,

of an amount determined under subsection (3).

(3) That amount is whichever is the greater of—

(a) one-twelfth of the amount specified in section 4(2) or (3) in relation to the Scottish Administration or (as the case may be) the direct-funded body in question,

(b) the amount paid out of the Scottish Consolidated Fund under section 65(1)(c) of the Scotland Act 1998 in the corresponding calendar month of financial year 2024/25 for or in connection with expenditure of the Scottish Administration or (as the case may be) that direct-funded body.

(4) Section 4 of the PFA Act 2000 has effect accordingly.

(5) This section is subject to any provision made by a Budget Act for financial year 2025/26.

Part 3 Miscellaneous

Amendment and repeal

7 Budget revision regulations

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations amend—

(a) the amounts specified in section 4(2) and (3),

(b) schedules 1 to 3.

(2) Regulations under this section are subject to the affirmative procedure.

8 Repeal of spent provisions

Part 2 (financial year 2024/25) of the Budget (Scotland) Act 2023 is repealed.

Final provisions

9 Interpretation

(1) In this Act, the “PFA Act 2000” means the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000.

(2) References in this Act to accruing resources in relation to the Scottish Administration or a direct-funded body are to such resources accruing to the Administration or (as the case may be) that body in financial year 2024/25.

(3) References in this Act to the direct-funded bodies are to the bodies listed in section 4(3) (and references to a direct-funded body are to either of those bodies).

(4) Except where otherwise expressly provided, expressions used in this Act and in the PFA Act 2000 have the same meanings in this Act as they have in that Act.

10 Commencement

This Act comes into force on the day after Royal Assent.

11 Short title

The short title of this Act is the Budget (Scotland) Act 2024.

Schedule 1 The Scottish Administration

(introduced by section 1)

Purposes	Amount of resources, other than accruing resources (£)	Amount of accruing resources (£)
1. Through their NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care portfolio, for use by the Scottish Ministers on: operational and administrative costs; hospital and community health services; family health services, including local GP practices, pharmacy, dental and ophthalmic services; community care; mental health services; capital investment; health and social care integration outcomes framework; delivery of services by digital means and communication; care, support and rights; social care support; early years; other health and social care services; the Independent Living Fund Scotland; the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland; Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland; the Scottish Sports Council; Active Healthy Lives.	19,558,565,000	3,000,000,000
2. Through their Social Justice portfolio, for use by the Scottish Ministers on: operational and administrative costs; grant assistance and funding of strategic programmes to create the best conditions for the third sector and volunteering to thrive; building standards; housing subsidies and guarantees; repayment of debt and associated costs; other expenditure, contributions and grants relating to housing; funding for the Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel; activities relating to homelessness; research and publicity and other portfolio services; grants to local authorities and registered social landlords; loans to individuals; assessment and remediation of buildings within the scope of the Cladding Remediation Programme; development of the cladding assurance register; funding for the Household Survey; social justice activities, including tackling poverty and inequality with a particular focus on child poverty; grants and loans to organisations; funding for advice and advocacy services; funding to support the design, development and implementation of social security powers; funding for Social Security Scotland; funding for the Scottish Commission on Social Security; funding of payments of social security assistance; funding to tackle poverty; grant assistance; funding of strategic contracts; expenditure relating to equality and human rights issues, including delivering an Anti-Racism Observatory, eradicating violence against women and girls, and grants to organisations; expenditure relating to tackling hate crime; expenditure relating to supporting people who are destitute, including refugees and asylum seekers, and in particular the Warm Scots Welcome scheme for resettling displaced people from Ukraine in Scotland; expenditure relating to community support, resilience and engagement; talent attraction and retention.	7,564,014,000	90,000,000
3. Through their Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy portfolio, for use by the Scottish Ministers on: operational and administrative costs; expenditure on committees, commissions and other portfolio services; support for Growth Accelerator programmes; grant in aid for Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and South of Scotland Enterprise; industry, innovation, entrepreneurship and technology/digital grants and support for low carbon economy; sundry enterprise-related activities; expenditure in relation to the running costs of the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser; grant in aid for the Scottish National Investment Bank; European Structural Fund grants to the Enterprise Networks, local authorities, further and higher education institutions, third sector bodies and other eligible bodies and organisations; costs of delivery and evaluation of European Structural Fund; funding for employment support, learning opportunities, workforce development and supporting fair work principles; funding for City and Regional Growth Deals; support for Ferguson Marine; VisitScotland; tourism; digital and broadband connectivity; support for inward trade and investment and exports; investment in energy decarbonisation and hydrogen, carbon capture, utilisation and storage and negative emissions technologies; Fuel Insecurity Fund; support of offshore wind supply chain opportunities; funding for domestic energy efficiency, insulation and refurbishment projects; funding for domestic and non-domestic energy-related activities; action to prevent waste, improve recycling, reduce emissions from waste, tackle litter and deliver a circular economy strategy; addressing biodiversity loss and nature restoration; environmental protection; other environmental expenditure; flood prevention; coastal protection; air quality monitoring; climate change activities, including the Land Managers’ Renewables Fund and Climate Justice Fund; Scottish Natural Heritage; the Scottish Environment Protection Agency; the National Park authorities; water grants, including to the Water Industry Commission for Scotland and funding for the Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland; loans to Scottish Water and Scottish Water Business Stream Holdings Limited; the Green Jobs Fund; the Green Growth Accelerator.	1,985,171,000	400,000,000
4. Through their Education and Skills portfolio, for use by the Scottish Ministers on: operational and administrative costs; schools; training and development of teachers; education workforce, including support staff; educational research, development and promotion; Scottish Attainment Challenge related programmes; provision of Pupil Equity Funding; pupil support and wellbeing; promoting equality and inclusion in education and ensuring schools are safe spaces; digital strategy and device provision; National Improvement Framework related programmes; supporting implementation of education reforms; the Gaelic language; Bòrd na Gàidhlig; Gaelic Media Service (MG Alba); the Scots language; funding of Education Scotland, Disclosure Scotland and Additional Support Needs Tribunals for Scotland; delivery of 1140 hours of funded early learning and childcare, and the expansion of early learning and school age childcare services; child protection; care for looked after and vulnerable children; supporting care experienced children and young people; caregivers; youth justice and preventing offending by children and young people; secure care for children and young people; advocacy for children and young people; development of the social services workforce; supporting children’s services reform; supporting quality improvement and improvement science through the children and young people improvement collaborative; development of the community learning and development workforce; parenting and play; support for families with severely disabled children; supporting disabled children and young people; early intervention funding for the third sector through the Children, Young People, Families and Adult Learning Fund; running costs of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry; implementation of The Promise and running costs of The Promise Scotland; Whole Family Wellbeing funding; incorporation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child; implementation of Getting It Right For Every Child; financial redress for survivors of child abuse in care; central government grants to local authorities for Gaelic education, raising attainment and early learning and childcare; grant funding for the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership and Scottish Qualifications Authority accreditation; grant in aid for the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council, Scottish Qualifications Authority (including qualifications delivery and development), Children's Hearings Scotland, Scottish Children's Reporter Administration, Scottish Social Services Council and Redress Scotland; grant in aid for Skills Development Scotland; administration funding for the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS); funding administered by SAAS for fees, grants, bursaries, student loans and related costs of higher education student support; Enterprise in Education; activities associated with the Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland and the Scottish Science Advisory Council, and public activities to support STEM education, science literacy and skills; international and other educational services; funding for international college and university activities; sundry lifelong learning activities, including community-based adult learning; funding activities for young people to develop skills in connection with training and work; funding for employment support programmes; the provision of Education Maintenance Allowances.	4,949,353,000	350,000,000
5. Through their Justice and Home Affairs portfolio, for use by the Scottish Ministers on: operational and administrative costs; legal aid, including the running costs of the Scottish Legal Aid Board; criminal injuries compensation (including administration); support for victims and witnesses of crime, victims of human trafficking and addressing violence against women and girls; certain services relating to crime, including the Parole Board for Scotland; the Scottish Prison Service; the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission; the Scottish Law Commission; the Risk Management Authority; the Scottish Police Authority, the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner and His Majesty’s Inspectors of Constabulary in Scotland; additional police services; the running costs of inquiries and reviews; the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and His Majesty’s Inspectors of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service; the payment of police and fire pensions; cyber resilience; central government grants to local authorities for criminal justice social work; measures to create safer and stronger communities, including Community Justice Scotland; miscellaneous services relating to the administration of justice; veterans; community justice services; court services, including judicial pensions; certain legal services; costs and fees in connection with legal proceedings.	3,586,137,000	39,700,000
6. Through their Transport portfolio, for use by the Scottish Ministers on: operational and administrative costs; support for passenger rail services, rail infrastructure and associated rail services; support for the development and delivery of concessionary travel schemes; support for the bus industry; funding for major public transport projects; the running costs of Transport Scotland; funding for the Strategic Transport Projects Review; funding for travel information services and accessible travel; the maintenance and enhancement of the trunk road network; support for ferry services, loans and grants relating to vessel construction or procurement, grants for pier, harbour and other port infrastructure; support for Highlands and Islands Airports Limited; support and loans for investment in air services; funding for the Air Discount Scheme; support for the Tay Road Bridge Joint Board; support for the freight industry; support for Scottish Canals; funding to promote sustainable and active travel; funding and loans to support net-zero emissions and climate change transport initiatives; contributing to the running costs of Regional Transport Partnerships and other bodies associated with the transport sector; support for the Glasgow Subway Modernisation programme; funding for road safety; costs in relation to funding the office of the Scottish Road Works Commissioner; costs related to public inquiries; central government grants to local authorities.	3,705,617,000	600,000,000
7. Through their Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands portfolio, for use by the Scottish Ministers on: operational and administrative costs; market support, including grants in relation to agriculture and food and drink; support for agriculture in special areas; rural development; agri-environmental and farm woodland measures; animal health and welfare; agricultural support reform; land based learning; funding for land reform and community ownership; the Scottish Land Commission; rural affairs; support for crofting communities, including the crofting environment; funding for National Islands Plan related initiatives; administration of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, Marine Fund Scotland and the emergency harbour grants scheme; core marine functions involving scientific research, marine and biodiversity protection, marine fisheries enforcement, policy and management of Scotland’s seas, aquaculture and freshwater fisheries policy, administration of all marine consents required for depositing substances at sea, coastal protection and offshore renewables, representing Scotland’s interests in relation to international fisheries policy, and sponsorship of Crown Estate Scotland; land restoration; wildlife management; analytical and scientific support to help improve rural and environmental policy, including funding of Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture research 2022-27 and First Minister’s Environmental Council; provision of institutional framework for environmental law and policy in Scotland, including the Environmental Strategy and guiding principles on the environment; Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh; Atlantic rainforest restoration; Scottish Forestry; the promotion of sustainable management and expansion of forests and woodlands, including delivery of forestry policy, support and regulations; supporting the forestry sector through grants; Forestry and Land Scotland; managing Scotland’s national forests and land.	1,092,569,000	300,000,000
8. Through their Constitution, External Affairs and Culture portfolio, for use by the Scottish Ministers on: operational and administrative costs; support for the arts, culture and creativity in Scotland; cultural and heritage organisations; the creative industries; central government grants to non-departmental public bodies, local authorities and other bodies and organisations; architecture and design maximising the benefits of good quality design to improve the development of Scotland’s places; funding to support Royal and ceremonial activity; international and European relations; protecting Scotland’s place in Europe; development assistance.	280,440,458	200,000,000
9. Through their Deputy First Minister and Finance portfolio, for use by the Scottish Ministers on: operational and administrative costs; expenditure and grant assistance in relation to public service reform and efficiency; the running and capital costs of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency; financial support to local authorities, including the guaranteed combined general revenue grant and distributable non-domestic rates income; general capital grants and other local authority revenue and capital grants for specific purposes, including the Transfer of the Management of Development Funding and the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund; other services, including discretionary payments under the Bellwin scheme covering floods, storms and other emergencies; funding to support research and the development and design of local taxation and local government governance; expenditure on corporate and central services; funding to support the central performance, delivery and resilience functions of the Scottish Government; funding to support electoral administration; funding of Boundaries Scotland; funding of the Accountant in Bankruptcy; running costs of the Scottish COVID-19 public inquiry as well as costs of responding to both the Scottish and UK inquiries; funding to support implementation of extension of Freedom of Information legislation; funding of a strategy function which supports effective policy across the Scottish Government; costs associated with the functions of the King's Printer for Scotland.	12,542,123,000	400,000,000
10. For use by the Lord Advocate, through the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, on: operational and administrative costs relating to the investigation and prosecution of crime, the investigation of allegations of criminal conduct against police officers and the investigation of deaths; operational and administrative costs in relation to functions in respect of extradition and mutual legal assistance; fees paid to Advocate Deputes, temporary procurators fiscal and ad hoc Advocate Deputes; witness expenses; victim expenses; other costs associated with Crown prosecutions and public inquiries; for use by the Lord Advocate, through the Civil Recovery Unit, on: investigations and cases brought under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.	222,957,000	3,000,000
11. Through the National Records of Scotland, for use by the Scottish Ministers, the Registrar General for Scotland and the Keeper of the Records of Scotland on: operational, administrative and capital investment costs.	34,545,000	9,800,000
12. For use by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator on: operational and administrative costs.	3,639,000	Nil
13. For use by the Scottish Housing Regulator on: operational and administrative costs.	5,582,000	Nil
14. For use by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service on: operational and administrative costs.	165,877,000	47,000,000
15. For use by the Scottish Fiscal Commission on: operational and administrative costs.	2,706,000	Nil
16. For use by Revenue Scotland on: operational and administrative costs.	11,000,000	Nil
17. For use by Food Standards Scotland on: operational and administrative costs, including research, monitoring and surveillance and public information and awareness relating to food safety, standards and improving diet; protecting the other interests of consumers in relation to food.	22,933,000	5,000,000
18. For use by the Scottish Ministers on: pensions, allowances, gratuities etc. payable in respect of the teachers' and national health service pension schemes.	3,422,407,000	3,100,000,000
19. For use by Registers of Scotland on: operational and administrative costs.	9,971,000	100,000,000
20. For use by Environmental Standards Scotland on: operational and administrative costs.	3,020,000	Nil
21. For use by Consumer Scotland on: operational and administrative costs.	2,400,000	Nil
Total amount of resources	59,171,026,458	8,644,500,000

Schedule 2 Direct-funded bodies

(introduced by section 2)

Purposes	Amount of resources, other than accruing resources (£)	Amount of accruing resources (£)
1. For use by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body on: operational and administrative costs of the Scottish Parliament; payments in respect of the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland, the Standards Commission for Scotland, the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, the Scottish Information Commissioner, the Scottish Commission for Human Rights, the Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland, the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner and the devolved Scottish functions of the Electoral Commission; any other payments relating to the Scottish Parliament.	143,105,000	1,000,000
2. For use by Audit Scotland on: the exercise of its functions, including assistance and support to the Auditor General for Scotland and the Accounts Commission for Scotland; other audit work for public bodies; payment of pensions to former Local Government Ombudsmen and their staff.	13,512,000	26,000,000

Schedule 3 Borrowing by statutory bodies

(introduced by section 3)

Enactment	Amount (£)
1. Section 25 of the Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990 (Scottish Enterprise).	10,000,000
2. Section 26 of that Act (Highlands and Islands Enterprise).	1,000,000
3. Section 48 of the Environment Act 1995 (Scottish Environment Protection Agency).	Nil
4. Section 42B of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 (Scottish Water).	222,000,000
5. Section 14 of the Water Services etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 (Scottish Water Business Stream Holdings Limited and any subsidiary of it within the meaning of section 1159 of the Companies Act 2006).	100,000,000