It’s Budget week

Comms officer Innes Burns tells us what to look out for during Budget week.

This week the UK Government will deliver its annual Budget, setting out decisions on public spending, taxation, and social policy for the year ahead.

The day typically begins with ministers preparing briefing notes and the Chancellor meeting officials to finalise the speech. The main event is the Budget statement in the House of Commons, usually around midday, where the Chancellor outlines priorities, spending plans, and any tax changes. Immediately after the statement, Members of Parliament can question the Chancellor and debate the announcements. In the days that follow, Parliament will consider the Budget resolutions and the Finance Bill, which enacts the changes into law.

Children in Scotland continues to highlight the impact of the two-child limit and has supported an open letter calling for its removal. The limit restricts some benefits to only the first two children in a family and has significant effects on larger families. We know that the immediate removal of the two-child limit will have an immediate and meaningful impact on children’s lives. You can read the Open Letter signed by us, among other prominent voices in the third sector, here.

As the Budget day unfolds, an important focus will be on announcements that affect children and families, including support for education, childcare, health services, and social security. However, it is important to remember that many of these policy areas are devolved, with the Scottish Government due to set out its plans for public finances after the UK Government’s budget has been announced.

As always, changes to spending at Westminster could affect the amount of money allocated towards Scotland’s budget through Barnett consequentials.

The Chancellor will be providing this amongst a tough economic backdrop. She’s spoke previously about the pressures the public finances face, including an annual £100bn payment to cover the interest on the UK’s debt.

Children in Scotland will continue to monitor developments and provide clear explanations of the practical implications for children across Scotland.