Thread by @theSNP

DM: "We will invest over £180 million to raise attainment in schools and close the attainment gap – including £120 million that will go direct to head teachers through the transformational Pupil Equity Fund." #ScotBudget

DM: "In 2019-20 we will deliver fair and dignified social security assistance over and above what the UK Government provides, with a total forecast expenditure of £435 million." #ScotBudget

DM: "This will include a forecast spend of £37 million for Carer’s Allowance supplement, providing vital support for our carers." #ScotBudget

DM: "We will provide nearly £100 million to continue our mitigation of the Bedroom Tax and UK Government welfare cuts." #ScotBudget

DM: "We will continue the protection of the police resource budget in real terms, provide over £5 million of additional resources to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to support their transformation." #ScotBudget

DM: "The Scottish economy is the power house that fuels ambition for Scotland. We are determined to unlock its full potential." #ScotBudget

DM: "The Scottish Government has committed around £1.3 billion to support Scotland’s seven cities and their regions to maximise economic opportunity" #ScotBudget

DM: "We have a clear commitment to Fair Work and Employability, and as part of this we will invest £5 million over three years to support around 2,000 women to return to work following a career break" #ScotBudget

DM: "This Government will increase capital investment by £1.56 billion per year by the end of the next Parliament." #ScotBudget

DM: "Our investments in broadband, transport and utilities will provide the foundation for companies to invest and bring new economic opportunities across Scotland." #ScotBudget

DM: "As part of this vision, I will continue our ground-breaking work to establish a Scottish National Investment Bank. This budget will provide £130 million of funding to establish the bank and pre-cursor investments." #ScotBudget

DM: "In 2019-20 we will invest a record £826 million as part of our total investment of over £3 billion to deliver 50,000 affordable homes over the course of the Parliament across the length and breadth of Scotland.

Building for Scotland, and building new homes too." #ScotBudget

DM: "I have listened carefully to the business community. They seek investment in skills, people, innovation, and infrastructure. This budget delivers such investment." #ScotBudget

DM: "Last year I limited the increase in business rates to CPI inflation. This year I will go further. I am announcing today that we will cap the increase in the rates poundage in 2019-20 in Scotland at a below-inflation level of 49 pence, limiting the increase to 2.1 per cent."

DM: "This will ensure that over 90 per cent of properties in Scotland - and all small and medium sized businesses - pay a lower poundage than they would in other parts on the UK." #ScotBudget

DM: "I can announce today that we will establish a new £50 million capital fund to support our town centres to diversify and develop, ensuring our town centres are thriving sustainable places where people choose to spend their time." #ScotBudget

DM: "Last year we took the decision to introduce a new, progressive, fair and balanced income tax system that raises additional revenue from those who can most afford it and protects public spending." #ScotBudget

DM: "This helps us to make Scotland the kind of country that we want it to be, funds our public services, supports our economic infrastructure and supports those most in need." #ScotBudget

DM: "I have decided, this year, that I will not increase any of the rates of income tax. Tax rates will remain the same and as a result 99% of all taxpayers will see no increase in the tax they pay." #ScotBudget

DM: "However, in 2019-20, I will increase the Starter and Basic Rate bands by inflation to protect our lowest and middle earning taxpayers. The Higher Rate Threshold will be frozen." #ScotBudget

DM: "This will ensure that 55% of Scottish taxpayers continue to pay less than they would if they lived elsewhere in the UK and Scotland will continue to be the lowest taxed part of the UK." #ScotBudget

DM: "Our tax policy supports our public services and investment in our economy, whilst Scotland continues to be the fairest taxed part of the UK." #ScotBudget

DM: "Our economy has grown faster than the rest of the UK in the first six months of this year." #ScotBudget

DM: "We recognise our NHS and wider health and social care system must continue to adapt to the changing needs of our population.

In 2019-20, we will continue our improvement of these vital services." #ScotBudget

DM: "I can announce today that I am increasing the health portfolio resource budget by almost £730 million - that is an increase of almost £500 million in real terms." #ScotBudget

DM: "This decision confirms that health is a top priority for the Government and will take spending levels to £754 million over and above inflation since 2016-17 - the equivalent of 19,000 nurses." #ScotBudget

DM: "The decisions I have taken in this year’s budget will also allow me to increase funding for local government in 2019-20, providing total support of £11.1 billion." #ScotBudget

DM: "And let me be clear, this provides a real-terms increase in both revenue and capital funding, and an overall real terms increase in the total local government settlement of over £210 million." #ScotBudget

DM: "If opposition parties choose to argue for additional spending in any area, over and above what I have set out in this budget then, to have any credibility, they need to indicate where the money should come from." #ScotBudget

DM: "The Scottish Government cannot completely protect Scotland from the recklessness of the UK Government, but the decisions we have taken in this budget ensures that we protect what matters most." #ScotBudget

DM: "We choose to transform our early learning and childcare, protect funding for education and improve attainment, invest record sums in our health services, provide a real terms increase in total funding for local government..." #ScotBudget

DM: "Expand free personal care, and deliver a fair and just new social security system which will support those most in need. We are doing all this while the UK government implodes on their journey of economic self-harm." #ScotBudget

DM: "That is why the people of Scotland have entrusted us to focus on the delivery of our public services and the economy." #ScotBudget

DM: "This budget delivers for the Scotland of today, and invests for the Scotland of tomorrow." #ScotBudget