Finance and Public Administration Committee
Scottish Budget 2022-23 Timetable
Letter from Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Economy to the Convener of 21 September 2021
Dear Kenneth,
Thank you for your letter of 16 September regarding the timetable around Scottish Budget 2022-23.
I appreciate the important points you make regarding scrutiny arrangements, and that we are making progress on balancing this year’s timetable to reflect the circumstances. As well as the considerations set out in my earlier correspondence, I am mindful of the timetable for committees’ pre-budget scrutiny, given the Written Agreement’s envisaged timing for their reports ahead of the Budget. Equally I welcome the flexibility you are advancing around its envisaged timing for the Scottish Budget following the UK Budget.
Recognising also that every day counts in terms of available time for scrutiny regarding the various publications, I would therefore agree 9 December 2021 as the date for Scottish Budget 2022-23 and the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS). This will offer more time before recess for committees to make the necessary arrangements to commence scrutiny.
I also welcome your interest in our plans and timetable for consulting on a resource spending review framework ahead of publishing multi-year spending plans, and will revert to you shortly with further detail.
I am writing separately today to the Chair of the Scottish Fiscal Commission to notify 9 December as the date for Scottish Budget 2022-23 and the MTFS, and am also copying this letter to her.
Thank you again for the Committee’s consideration of this matter, and I look forward to working with you as the budget process continues.
Yours sincerely,
KATE FORBES