Question reference: S6W-23423
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 30 November 2023
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Current status: Answered by Maree Todd on 11 December 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the £7.5 million from the Mental Health Transformation Fund, which is to be reprioritised as part of 2023-24 in-year budget changes, had not yet been spent.
Answer
Financial planning to address the significant challenges our public finances face took place in advance of the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance's update on the 2023-24 in-year budget changes on 21 November.
The difficult decisions which have had to be taken, have allowed us to help balance the Scottish Government's budget, while still progressing implementation of our mental health and wellbeing strategy from a revised direct budget of £260.3 million.
As set out in the Scottish Public Finance Manual grant payments should not be made in advance of need.