BUDGET MEAL DEAL

Key £2 bus fares cap is secured from Finance Secretary Robison | Lib Dems get help for drug services and stop indy spend

- BY PAUL HUTCHEON

THE SNP government's Budget will pass after deals were struck on free school meals and a £2 cap on bus fares.

Extra cash to help babies born addicted to drugs was also secured as part of an agreement with the Greens and Lib Dems.

Last month's draft Budget proposed to restore winter fuel payments for older people axed by the Labour Government.

The tax and spending plan also set the SNP government on the path to scrap the two-child benefit cap and provide billions of pounds extra for the NHS.

But until yesterday no opposition party had voiced support for the package and talks with the Greens and Lib Dems were continuing.

A deal was then announced between the government and the two parties costing around £16.7million.

The Greens negotiated a year-long regional trial starting in January which will cap bus fares at £2.

The location of the pilot has not been agreed. They also secured funding for the roll-out of free school meals for some secondary school pupils.

Under the Green/SNP deal, pupils in eight council areas whose families qualify for the Scottish Child Payment will receive free meals.