What impact does the Scottish Budget have on the public

Every year the Scottish Parliament looks at the Scottish Government’s spending plans and how it raises taxes. This is called the Budget process.

The Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee is asking the public for its views as it begins a three-year-plan, which will see it consider the three principles of human rights budgeting: participation, transparency and accountability.

The Committee’s survey will ask people how much they know about the Budget, which areas of the Budget they feel affect them and how people can be more involved in the process.

In recent years, experts have told the Committee that the Scottish Government is making incremental progress in delivering a Budget that considers how people's rights are impacted by the way that money is raised, allocated, and spent. The survey aims to give the Committee an understanding what practical impact the Budget has on people across Scotland.

Later in the year, the Committee plans to undertake engagement with members of the public, as well as academics and third sector organisations to ensure it has a broad range of perspectives.

Commenting on the launch of the survey, the Committee’s Convener, Kaukab Stewart, said:

“Over the past few years our Committee has heard that the Government is making progress towards human rights budgeting and is working towards a budget model where resources are distributed in a way that puts people first. The Committee is keen to see this progress continue.

“This year, we would like to understand more about how we can involve the public more in the Parliament’s scrutiny of the Scottish Government’s spending plans and how it raises taxes.

“This is the public’s money and hearing from people across Scotland will help us to get a better understanding of the public’s views on public spending and on what is, and is not, working. I would encourage any person to share their views, so that we can get as complete an understanding as possible.”

The Committee’s survey will be open until 25 August 2023.