A political poker game over the Scottish Government's £30 billion spending plans intensified today as ministers published their detailed budget.
A political poker game over the Scottish Government's £30 billion spending plans intensified today as ministers published their detailed budget.
Labour said the proposals did not go far enough and called for finance secretary John Swinney to "put his money where his mouth is".
Other parties were also playing their cards close to their chest, refusing to say if there was enough in the proposals for them to give it their support.
The Budget Bill for 2009/10 was published this morning and includes details of more than £230 million of additional spending being brought forward from the following year to help weather the economic storm.
"This money will help improve roads, build schools and deliver major infrastructure projects," Mr Swinney said as it was published in Edinburgh today.
Mr Swinney said at the launch in Edinburgh today.
"It will generate work, support jobs - 4,700 in total on the basis of these detailed plans - and keep the Scottish economy moving.
"All the spending decisions have at their heart our plans to help Scotland weather the economic storm and spark a strong recovery."
The Bill today sets out how about £33 billion of public money will be spent in Scotland in 2009/10.
A £70 million funding pot will be made available to councils across Scotland which agree to a council tax freeze again next year and Mr Swinney said he was confident this would be achieved.
But Mr Swinney said this morning that economic growth in Scotland is expected to fall in the coming year, while unemployment is likely to rise.
Labour finance spokesman Andy Kerr today pledged to consider the budget in detail.
But he said: "I fear it does not go far enough.
"Finance minster John Swinney may claim it will boost investment and support jobs but the SNP are not following the lead shown by Labour at Westminster by providing more money for skills and retraining."
Mr Kerr said the budget does not contain the measures needed to secure jobs, but acknowledged that Mr Swinney had called Labour's own 15-point economic plan "very helpful".
Mr Kerr added: "John Swinney must put his money where his mouth is and take action along these lines.
"Overall Alex Salmond's government response to the credit crunch has been very disappointing."
The Lib Dems have called for a two pence income tax cut, but this has been dismissed by Mr Swinney who says it will cost the public purse £800 million.
"We remain disappointed that the SNP refuse even to consider the principle of personal tax cuts," Lib Dem finance spokesman Jeremy Purvis said.
"Although our door remains open to the Scottish Government, so far they have been worryingly arrogant and complacent."
Greens want ministers to amend their budget to include £100 million a year in funding to support free loft and cavity wall insulation, plus funding for domestic micro-renewables and other energy efficiency measures.
The party today said it had the support of the Scottish Building Federation for the proposals.
"This is a golden opportunity for ministers to tackle both fuel poverty and climate change, to reduce people's bills across Scotland," said co-leader patrick Harvie.
The Tories are to consider the plans in detail before they are considered in Parliament next week.
Independent MSP Margo MacDonald, whose support helped the SNP get its budget through last year, said today she had secured extra money for Edinburgh from Mr Swinney.
She said he had confirmed Edinburgh City Council would receive £3.5 million as the first year of a "capital city supplement" - an allowance to help the city fulfil its capital role.













