FOI/202500495386 · FOI · unclear
Expenditure forecast regarding tackling poverty and cost of living: FOI release
Information requested
You asked for the details of “which budget lines in the draft 2025-26 budget were counted to reach that £3 billion figure”, in relation to the press release of 21 February 2025 in which the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice stated "The draft 2025-26 budget continues to invest more than £3 billion to policies which tackle poverty and the cost of living for households".
Response
In responding to your request, I have interpreted this to mean that you are seeking information in relation to the individual policies and a breakdown of forecast expenditure being made to each of these measures, which total the figure you have cited.
I therefore attach a copy of the breakdown of forecast expenditure being made to a range of measures which will help tackle poverty and the cost of living for households at the time of this news release in February 2025.
Policy Forecast 2025-26 resource (£m) Access to Free Period Products 6.1 Baby Box 7.9 Best Start Foods 19.3 Best Start Grant 21.4 Bright Start Breakfasts 3 Carer's Allowance Supplement 62.0 Child Winter Heating Payment 11.9 Concessionary travel 414.5 Council Tax Reduction 351 Discretionary Housing Payments 97.1 Free NHS-funded eye examinations, and NHS optical vouchers etc 133.7 Free Prescriptions 57.0 Dental Examinations 51 Free school meals (universal provision to P4 and P5 and special schools) 42.2 Free School Meals, SCP alignment for P6 & P7 37.0 Free school meals - holiday support for eligible families 21.75 Funded Early Learning and Childcare 1,000.0 Funeral Support Payment 13.9 Heat, Energy Efficiency and Fuel Poverty measures 236.0 Islands Cost Crisis Emergency Fund 1.0 Job Start Payment 0.3 School Clothing Grant 14.2 Scottish Child Payment 471.0 Scottish Welfare Fund (incl. administration) 41.0 Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (including universal element) 100.6 Winter Heating Payment 28.3 Young Carer Grant 1.6 Total 3,244.75
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Contact Please quote the FOI reference Central Correspondence Unit Email: contactus@gov.scot Phone: 0300 244 4000 The Scottish Government St Andrew's House Regent Road Edinburgh EH1 3DG
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