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Budget tackles the issues faced by people across Caithness and the Highlands





Holyrood Notebook by Maree Todd

The National Treatment Centre in Inverness is helping to reduce some waiting times.
The National Treatment Centre in Inverness is helping to reduce some waiting times.

In stark contrast to Labour’s austerity agenda, the Scottish Government has unveiled a Budget this month that offers hope. It prioritises investments aimed at eradicating child poverty, boosting economic growth, and improving public services like our NHS.

The standout commitment in this budget, which I am extremely heartened by, is the Scottish Government’s pledge to build the infrastructure needed to eliminate the impact of the two-child cap by 2026.

Despite the cap – first introduced by the Tories in 2017 – being widely recognised as a significant driver of child poverty, the Labour government has failed to abolish it since coming to power. The Scottish Government will now step in to put an end to this punitive policy.

Once implemented, this could help to lift thousands of children out of poverty in Scotland and reduce the depth of poverty faced by many more. In Highland, which ranks sixth highest in the number of households affected, the impact will be particularly significant.

The Scottish Government will also restore a universal heating payment from next year to every pensioner household, following the UK government’s decision to scrap Winter Fuel Payments, a move that has left many pensioners in my constituency without crucial support this winter.

The budget also includes a record increase of nearly £2 billion for frontline NHS boards, with an additional £133.1m for NHS Highland. This funding boost will improve access to GP appointments, enhance A&E services, and ensure more people receive care on time. It will also support the training of more dental professionals, introduce specialist nurses for long Covid, and expand community-based support for teenage mental health.

When I visited the National Treatment Centre in Inverness last week, I heard how NHS Highland is exceeding its target for orthopaedic surgeries. The centre, which opened last year, has significantly boosted capacity for hip, knee, and cataract surgeries and is fulfilling its purpose of reducing waiting times and improving access to care.

While it’s encouraging to hear of progress, I know that many of my constituents are still facing lengthy waits for treatment across a range of clinical departments. The pressure on NHS services remains high, and there is a real need for further support, which is why the extra funding for NHS Highland in this Budget is so vital in tackling the backlog.

This Budget also delivers more funding for affordable homes, schools, social care, and other vital council services.

The UK Labour government’s budget showed how little they understand Scotland, never mind the Highlands, but the SNP government’s Budget directly tackles many of the pressing challenges we face here in Caithness, Sutherland and Ross.

This is a real opportunity for the parliament to show it understands these challenges. In Scotland, both Labour and the Lib Dems are keen to reintroduce a universal winter fuel payment and have called for the two-child cap to be scrapped. With the Budget Bill requiring support from other parties to pass, it will be telling to see who backs this Budget to deliver on these key commitments, or if they opt to play politics at the expense of the people and communities who need it most.

Since this is my last column of the year, I’d like to finish by wishing all of my constituents a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year, Nollaig Chridheil agus Bliadhna Mhath Ùr.

Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP Maree Todd.
Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP Maree Todd.

• Maree Todd is the SNP MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross.


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