# Budget (Scotland) (No. 4) Bill The Scottish Government's fourth budget bill of the parliamentary session addresses the allocation and spending of Scotland's public finances for the relevant financial year. Like other budget bills, it responds to the evolving fiscal landscape and any changes to the Scottish Government's spending priorities since earlier budget iterations in the same session. Budget bills are essential legislative instruments that authorise the Government to raise revenue and spend money on public services and programmes across Scotland's devolved responsibilities, including health, education, social security, and local government. The bill authorises specific spending plans across Scottish Government departments and agencies, setting out how resources will be distributed to deliver public services. As a Budget (No. 4) bill, it typically represents revised or supplementary spending allocations, reflecting circumstances that have changed since previous budgets were passed—such as adjustments to UK Government funding, reallocation of resources to emerging priorities, or changes in departmental requirements. The bill provides the legal framework necessary for the Scottish Government to manage its finances throughout the financial year and must be approved by the Scottish Parliament to allow spending to proceed.
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Parliamentary Progress
Introduced
18 December 2024
Stage 1
4 February 2025
Stage 2
18 February 2025
Stage 3
25 February 2025
Debate
Data sourced from parliament.scot