Scotland's benefits bill not too high, new deputy FM says
The newly appointed Deputy First Minister of Scotland, Jenny Gilruth, defended the country's social security spending, stating it is not excessive. She emphasized the importance of supporting those in need, contrasting Scotland's approach with what she described as the callousness of UK governments. The Scottish government's benefits budget is projected to grow significantly in the coming years, raising concerns about financial sustainability.
- ▪Jenny Gilruth has been promoted to Deputy First Minister and Finance Secretary in the new Scottish cabinet.
- ▪The Scottish government's social security budget is forecast to rise from £7.4bn this year to £9.2bn by 2030-31.
- ▪Gilruth claimed that the Scottish government spends £100m annually to mitigate the effects of Westminster austerity.
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Scotland's benefits bill not too high, new deputy FM saysJust nowShareSaveAdd as preferred on GooglePA MediaJenny Gilruth has been given a promotion in the new Scottish cabinet The Scottish government is not spending too much on benefits, newly named Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth has said. SNP ministers have used devolved powers to create a more generous social security system than in the rest of the UK, but that has fuelled warnings about its financial sustainability. Gilruth said she would "make no apology" for Scotland's system, comparing it with the "callous approach" she claimed had been taken by successive UK governments.
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