Scottish Budget: 2024 to 2025
The Scottish Budget sets out the Scottish Government’s proposed spending and tax plans for 2024 to 2025, as presented to the Scottish Parliament.
Annex A.3 – Social Justice
Portfolio Responsibilities
Social Justice drives the national mission to reduce poverty, with a particular focus on child poverty and providing people with a secure and affordable home; promotes equality and a fairer Scotland; and provides the strategic relationships for our third sector partners to improve outcomes for individuals and communities across Scotland.
This portfolio is responsible for the development and delivery of Scottish Government benefits, the Scottish Welfare Fund and Discretionary Housing Payments; and for Social Security Scotland, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, the Scottish Housing Regulator, the Office of the Chief Social Policy Advisor, and the Ministerial Taskforce on Population.
Funding for 2024-25 will support action to tackle poverty and inequality; respect, protect and fulfil human rights; and allow all in Scotland to live free from discrimination.
By establishing a Ministerial group to focus on the delivery of Best Start, Bright Futures, our second Child Poverty delivery plan, we will maximise our impact on child poverty across Government. We will take a whole family wellbeing approach to enable us to Keep The Promise, and will continue to fund Scotland’s Baby Box, giving every child the best start in life.
We are committed to delivering new Scottish Government social security benefits, including Pension Age Disability Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, in addition to the 14 new benefits already being delivered by Social Security Scotland, while progressing the national roll-out of Carer Support Payment, and ensuring people receiving benefits are treated with dignity, fairness and respect.
We will work with Local Government to reduce homelessness and continue to promote Housing First. To make housing available to those who need it most, we will continue progress towards delivery of 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, of which at least 70 per cent will be for social rent and 10 per cent will be in rural and islands communities. This is integral to tackling poverty and regenerating communities, supporting economic growth and contributing to net zero targets.
We will continue to safeguard residents and homeowners by assessing and remediating buildings within the scope of the Cladding Remediation Bill.
We will work with partners across the public sector to understand the extent of RAAC in buildings and consider how to address risks associated with it.
We will tackle structural and systemic barriers to equality, through our world-leading Human Rights Bill, the establishment of the Anti-Racism Observatory for Scotland and Immediate Priorities Plan for Disabled People. We will continue to support vulnerable people in our communities through our New Scots refugee integration strategy, and ongoing support for Ukrainians displaced by war.
We want to ensure Scotland is an open and welcoming nation for people and their families to live and work in, and to make a positive contribution to our country.
The Social Justice spending plans set out below will ensure that Scotland has strong and inclusive communities, defined by equality and good opportunities, through improving social justice and tackling poverty.
Social Justice Intended Contributions To The National Outcomes
Primary National Outcomes
- Communities
- Human Rights
- Children and Young People
- Poverty
Secondary National Outcomes
- Culture
- Health
- International
- Economy
- Fair Work and Business
- Environment
- Education
For further information on the purpose of the portfolio budget, and contributions to national outcomes (including impacts of spend on equality of outcome) please refer to the relevant portfolio annex in the published Equality and Fairer Scotland Budget Statement.
Social Justice
| Level 2 | 2022-23 Budget £m | 2023-24 Budget £m | 2024-25 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Third Sector | 25.3 | 21.2 | 21.1 |
| Housing and Building Standards | 892.3 | 738.3 | 533.2 |
| Cladding Remediation | – | 29.0 | 41.3 |
| Tackling Child Poverty and Social Justice | 111.4 | 45.7 | 43.0 |
| Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.6 |
| Scottish Housing Regulator | 5.3 | 6.6 | 5.6 |
| Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights | 47.7 | 49.9 | 51.9 |
| Social Security | 516.3 | 507.2 | 567.6 |
| Social Security Assistance | 3,949.2 | 5,137.9 | 6,168.9 |
| Ukrainian Resettlement | – | 70.0 | 44.8 |
| Total Social Justice | 5,550.9 | 6,609.2 | 7,481.0 |
| of which: | |||
| Total Fiscal Resource | 4,654.9 | 5,867.3 | 6,901.1 |
| of which Operating Costs | 64.1 | 65.7 | 57.3 |
| Non-cash | 54.0 | 70.0 | 84.8 |
| Capital | 691.8 | 587.1 | 525.5 |
| Financial Transactions (FTs) | 150.0 | 84.6 | (30.8) |
| UK Funded AME | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.4 |
Presentational Adjustments for Scottish Parliament Approval
| Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator | (3.4) | (3.3) | (3.6) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scottish Housing Regulator – shown separately | (5.3) | (6.6) | (5.6) |
| Central Government Grants to Local Authorities | 92.2 | 92.2 | 92.2 |
| Total Social Justice | 5,634.4 | 6,691.5 | 7,564.0 |
| Total Limit on Income (accruing resources) | 90.0 |
| Level 3 | 2022-23 Budget £m | 2023-24 Budget £m | 2024-25 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Third Sector | 25.3 | 21.2 | 21.1 |
| Total Third Sector | 25.3 | 21.2 | 21.1 |
| of which: | |||
| Fiscal Resource | 21.3 | 21.2 | 21.1 |
| Non-cash | – | – | - |
| Capital | – | – | – |
| FTs | 4.0 | – | – |
| UK Funded AME | – | – | – |
| Level 3 | 2022-23 Budget £m | 2023-24 Budget £m | 2024-25 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| More Homes | 740.1 | 564.6 | 375.8 |
| Fuel Poverty and Housing Quality | 1.8 | 21.8 | 1.7 |
| Housing Support | 139.8 | 150.7 | 153.3 |
| Building Standards | 10.7 | 1.3 | 2.4 |
| Total Housing & Building Standards | 892.3 | 738.3 | 533.2 |
| of which: | |||
| Fiscal Resource | 137.5 | 164.7 | 149.7 |
| Non-cash | – | – | – |
| Capital | 609.8 | 489.0 | 414.4 |
| FTs | 145.0 | 84.6 | (30.8) |
| UK Funded AME | – | – | – |
The Affordable Housing Supply Programme comprises of Capital, Transfer of Management of Development Funding and Financial Transactions and totals £555.8m in 2024-25
| Level 3 | 2022-23 Budget £m | 2023-24 Budget £m | 2024-25 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cladding Remediation | – | 29.0 | 41.3 |
| Total Cladding Remediation | – | 29.0 | 41.3 |
| of which: | |||
| Fiscal Resource | – | 2.0 | 6.7 |
| Non-cash | – | – | – |
| Capital | - | 27.0 | 34.6 |
| FTs | – | – | – |
| UK Funded AME | – | – | – |
| Level 3 | 2022-23 Budget £m | 2023-24 Budget £m | 2024-25 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Justice | 105.8 | 40.1 | 37.0 |
| Communities Analysis | 5.6 | 5.7 | 6.0 |
| Total Tackling Child Poverty and Social Justice | 111.4 | 45.7 | 43.0 |
| of which: | |||
| Fiscal Resource | 110.4 | 43.0 | 42.9 |
| Non-cash | – | – | – |
| Capital | – | 2.7 | 0.2 |
| FTs | 1.0 | – | – |
| UK Funded AME | – | – | – |
| Level 3 | 2022-23 Budget £m | 2023-24 Budget £m | 2024-25 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.6 |
| Total Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.6 |
| of which: | |||
| Fiscal Resource | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.6 |
| Non-cash | – | – | – |
| Capital | – | – | – |
| FTs | – | – | – |
| UK Funded AME | – | – | – |
| Level 3 | 2022-23 Budget £m | 2023-24 Budget £m | 2024-25 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scottish Housing Regulator | 5.3 | 6.6 | 5.6 |
| Total Scottish Housing Regulator | 5.3 | 6.6 | 5.6 |
| of which: | |||
| Fiscal Resource | 4.7 | 5.2 | 5.2 |
| Non-cash | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Capital | 0.2 | 1.2 | 0.1 |
| FTs | – | – | – |
| UK Funded AME | – | – | 0.2 |
| Level 3 | 2022-23 Budget £m | 2023-24 Budget £m | 2024-25 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equality, Inclusion & Human Rights | 47.7 | 49.9 | 51.9 |
| Total Equality, Inclusion & Human Rights | 47.7 | 49.9 | 51.9 |
| of which: | |||
| Fiscal Resource | 47.7 | 49.9 | 51.9 |
| Non-cash | – | – | – |
| Capital | – | – | – |
| FTs | – | – | – |
| UK Funded AME | – | – | – |
| Level 3 | 2022-23 Budget £m | 2023-24 Budget £m | 2024-25 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scottish Welfare Fund – Administration | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Social Security Advice, Policy and Programme | 199.6 | 198.7 | 239.9 |
| Social Security Scotland | 311.3 | 303.0 | 322.2 |
| Total Social Security | 516.3 | 507.2 | 567.6 |
| of which: | |||
| Fiscal Resource | 380.7 | 370.0 | 411.4 |
| Non-cash | 53.6 | 69.8 | 84.8 |
| Capital | 81.8 | 67.2 | 71.3 |
| FTs | – | – | – |
| UK Funded AME | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Level 3 | 2022-23 Budget £m | 2023-24 Budget £m | 2024-25 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scottish Welfare Fund | 35.5 | 35.5 | 35.5 |
| Carer Support Payment | 314.9 | 371.8 | 411.7 |
| Carer’s Allowance Supplement | 41.8 | 50.0 | 55.1 |
| Adult Disability Payment | 1,948.5 | 2,689.6 | 3,226.4 |
| Pension Age Disability Payment | 544.6 | 614.1 | 754.9 |
| Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance | 444.6 | 437.6 | 420.0 |
| Child Disability Payment | 265.2 | 327.6 | 450.1 |
| Industrial Injuries Disablement Scheme | 80.5 | 84.4 | 86.6 |
| Severe Disablement Allowance | 6.2 | 5.8 | 5.1 |
| Best Start Grant | 17.8 | 19.8 | 21.3 |
| Best Start Foods | 13.1 | 17.0 | 18.1 |
| Funeral Support Payment | 11.9 | 12.1 | 12.2 |
| Job Start Payment | 1.1 | 1.2 | 0.4 |
| Young Carer Grant | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| Child Winter Heating Payment | 4.0 | 4.7 | 8.7 |
| Scottish Child Payment | 197.4 | 442.1 | 457.3 |
| Pension Age Winter Heating Payment | – | – | 180.0 |
| Winter Heating Payment | 21.1 | 23.6 | 24.4 |
| Total Social Security Assistance | 3,949.2 | 5,137.9 | 6,168.9 |
| of which: | |||
| Fiscal Resource | 3,949.2 | 5,137.9 | 6,168.9 |
| Non-cash | – | – | – |
| Capital | – | – | – |
| FTs | – | – | – |
| UK Funded AME | – | – | – |
| Level 3 | 2022-23 Budget £m | 2023-24 Budget £m | 2024-25 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Ukrainian Resettlement | – | 70.0 | 44.8 |
| of which: | |||
| Fiscal Resource | – | 70.0 | 39.8 |
| Non-cash | – | – | – |
| Capital | – | – | 5.0 |
| FTs | – | – | – |
| UK Funded AME | – | – | – |
| Level 3 | 2022-23 Budget £m | 2023-24 Budget £m | 2024-25 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer of the Management of Development Fund (TMDF) | 92.2 | 92.2 | 92.2 |
| Total Social Justice Central Government Grants to Local Authorities | 92.2 | 92.2 | 92.2 |
| of which: | |||
| Fiscal Resource | – | – | – |
| Non-cash | – | – | – |
| Capital | 92.2 | 92.2 | 92.2 |
| FTs | – | – | – |
| UK Funded AME | – | – | – |
Contact
Email: ScottishBudget@gov.scot
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