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

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