A Budget that delivers for Scotland

This week the Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered the Autumn Budget and with it a very clear message: there will be no return to austerity under a UK Labour government.

- BY WEST SCOTLAND LABOUR MSP PAUL O'KANE

Spending plans Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her Budget on Wednesday

The Budget contained several announcements that I warmly welcome including the commitment to protect pensions with the triple lock representing a 4.1 per cent rise; a vital increase to the living wage which should benefit millions of low-paid workers; and reducing people's energy bills by £150. This is coupled with a further freeze in petrol prices to help household budgets.

The Scottish Budget for public services will also rise with an extra £820 million secured by Scottish Labour and my colleague Anas Sarwar.

This is money for our schools, hospitals, and police-and takes the total additional funding for the Scottish Government to £10.3bn.