MSP Fiona Hyslop has reassured locals that the SNP Government has “chosen to protect West Lothian Council in the Scottish Budget.”
The local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency has said “despite the financial constraints of Westminster control, services and people in West Lothian have been prioritised in the Scottish Government’s budget for 2022/23.”
West Lothian Council is set to benefit from over £13.2 billion, announced by the Deputy First Minister yesterday, for councils in the Local Government Settlement 2023-23 – a real terms increase of 1.3 per cent since the Budget Act 2022-23.
In what has been described as “the most challenging budget settlement since devolution”, John Swinney MSP announced that “instead of providing the flat-cash position set out in the Resource Spending Review, the Scottish Government is now increasing the resources available to Local Government next year by over £550 million.”
Ms Hyslop said: ““The people of West Lothian will benefit hugely as this SNP Government has chosen to go beyond the commitments made in the Resource Spending Review and provide over £550 million in funding for local government compared to the Resource Spending Review position.
“We are all aware of the pressure facing Council services which has been created by Westminster economic mismanagement, and Brexit which has led to the current Cost of Living Crisis.
“I am pleased to see the Scottish Government are doing what they can, with the powers they have, to ensure local services have the support they need.”
Don't miss the latest news from the West Lothian Courier. Sign up to our free newsletter here
