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Budget scrutiny 2023-24

Background

The Scottish Government published its Budget 2023-24 in December 2022. In advance of this, we undertook pre-budget scrutiny to influence the Scottish Government's thinking when preparing this budget. We then wrote to the Scottish Government outlining the conclusions of our scrutiny.

Find out about the Scottish Budget process

Our letter focused on three issues we had been gathering views on–

1. Electric vehicle charging point infrastructure;
2. The publication of the final Hydrogen Action Plan and associated capital investment, as well as the anticipated Energy and Just Transition Strategy; and
3. The Fair Fares Review and bus travel.

Joint Budget Review

In late 2022, the Committee considered a final report from the Joint Budget Review Group (JBR) - a collaborative working group of Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government officials - which looked at Fraser of Allander Institute research on implementing changes in the Scottish Budget on matters relating to climate change. The Finance and Public Administration Committee also participated. In December 2022 the Committee wrote a letter to the Scottish Government with its observations on the JBR and suggested next steps for action.

The aim of the JBR's work was to help set out more clearly the potential effect that decisions on budgetary spending each year may have on greenhouse gas emissions; to help the Parliament make more informed decisions on whether or not to support the Budget, or particular aspects of it. Whilst the JBR has now concluded, the Committee views this overall project as ongoing and expects to remain in dialogue with Scottish Government.