The Scottish Executive: Draft Budget 2004-05 Summary
Foreword Minister for Finance and Public Services
This document sets out the Executive's spending plans for 2004-05. In doing so, it explains how we intend to meet the commitments outlined in "Partnership for a Better Scotland", and the targets that we set ourselves in "Building a Better Scotland", following the 2002 Spending Review.
In the next four years we are determined to continue to improve public services and tackle the real issues that matter to people in Scotland. We will deliver on the promises that we have made. The people of Scotland expect the Parliament and the Executive to listen to their concerns, respond to their wishes and make a positive difference to their daily lives. This Draft Budget sets out how our spending plans will help us to meet those expectations.
We believe that the spending plans set out here will help us to create conditions in which improved economic growth can provide people with more opportunities in life. If we meet the commitments that we have made over the lifetime of this Parliament, we will be able to deliver better public services, greater economic prosperity, and an improved standard of living for the people of Scotland. We believe that our spending plans will allow us to do this, and will help us to make a real difference to the lives of everybody in Scotland.
Andy Kerr, MSP
Minister for Finance and Public Services