Scottish Budget 2025 to 2026
The Scottish Budget sets out the Scottish Government’s proposed spending and tax plans for 2025 to 2026, as presented to the Scottish Parliament.
Chapter 5 Social Justice
Portfolio Responsibilities
Social Justice drives the national mission to reduce poverty and inequality to improve outcomes for individuals and communities across Scotland.
The portfolio is responsible for Social Security Scotland, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, Scottish Housing Regulator, the Office of the Chief Social Policy Advisor and the Ministerial Taskforce on Population.
This budget will support the portfolio to tackle poverty and inequality, protect and fulfil human rights and allow all in Scotland to live free from discrimination.
We will continue to support the First Minister’s top priority of eradicating child poverty. We have established a Cabinet Sub Committee on child poverty to maximise our impact on child poverty and deliver the ambitions set out in Best Start, Bright Futures. We will continue to support local innovative work through our Fairer Futures Partnerships and the Child Poverty Practice Accelerator Fund. We will begin to develop the capability to mitigate, as far as possible. The impacts of the two child limit from 2026.
We are committed to delivering social security benefits that help low-income families, support older people, and enable disabled people to live independent lives; whilst embedding dignity and fairness in the services provided by Social Security Scotland.
Preventing and ending homelessness and supplying affordable housing are key interlinked commitments of the portfolio. We will work with local government to reduce homelessness and promote rapid rehousing including Housing First. Progress towards the delivery of 110,000 affordable homes by 2032 will continue. We will work with local government and registered social landlords, focusing on impact in response to the Housing Emergency. This is integral in tackling poverty and regenerating communities, as well as supporting economic growth and contributing to net zero targets.
Through our Housing Bill, we will boost tenants’ rights and include provisions for long-term rent controls. We will bring forward amendments to the Bill that will clearly set out how rent controls apply and place duties on local authorities and other relevant bodies to prevent homelessness earlier.
We will continue to work closely with key infrastructure partners in third sector on our commitment to fairer funding. We are working to fully implement the Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Act 2023, to update and strengthen regulation for our charities.
We will continue to accelerate progress with the assessment and remediation of dangerous cladding. We will introduce new legislation for a Scottish Building Safety Levy to support future programme delivery.
Social Justice intended contributions to the National Outcomes
Primary National Outcomes
- Communities
- Human Rights
- Children and Young People
- Poverty
Secondary National Outcomes
- Culture
- Health
- International
- Economy
- Fair Work and Business
- Environment
- Education
For further information on the purpose of the portfolio budget, and contributions to national outcomes (including impacts of spend on equality of outcome) please refer to the relevant portfolio annex in the published Equality and Fairer Scotland Budget Statement.
Social Justice
The prior year 2024-25 Budget comparator figures are based on the latest in-year budget numbers which were revised at the Autumn Budget Revision. The 2023-24 Scottish Budget comparator figures reflect the outturn numbers for that year.
| Level 2 | 2023-24 Outturn £m | 2024-25 ABR Budget £m | 2025-26 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Third Sector Infrastructure & Development | 21.1 | 14.7 | 14.1 |
| Housing & Building Standards | 615.2 | 488.1 | 766.0 |
| Cladding Remediation | 9.1 | 41.3 | 52.2 |
| Tackling Child Poverty & Social Justice | 37.7 | 50.0 | 59.0 |
| Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator | 3.3 | 3.6 | 3.8 |
| Scottish Housing Regulator | 5.3 | 5.6 | 5.8 |
| Equality, Inclusion & Human Rights | 44.6 | 52.8 | 58.9 |
| Social Security | 474.3 | 545.3 | 504.3 |
| Social Security Assistance | 5,188.6 | 5,985.4 | 6,762.1 |
| Ukrainian Resettlement | 167.3 | 51.7 | 18.2 |
| Total Social Justice | 6,566.5 | 7,238.6 | 8,244.3 |
| of which | |||
| Total Fiscal Resource | 5,829.2 | 6,618.8 | 7,471.9 |
| of which Operating Costs | 82.9 | 57.6 | 61.3 |
| Non-cash | 48.4 | 84.9 | 70.7 |
| Capital | 576.5 | 565.5 | 701.5 |
| Financial Transactions (FTs) | 72.7 | (30.8) | – |
| UK Funded AME | 39.8 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator | (3.3) | (3.6) | (3.8) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scottish Housing Regulator – shown separately | (5.3) | (5.6) | (5.8) |
| Central Government Grants to Local Authorities | 92.2 | 92.2 | 92.2 |
| Total Social Justice | 6,650.2 | 7,321.6 | 8,327.0 |
| Total Limit on Income (accruing resources) | 90.0 |
| Level 3 | 2023-24 Outturn £m | 2024-25 ABR Budget £m | 2025-26 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Third Sector Infrastructure & Development | 21.1 | 14.7 | 14.1 |
| Total Third Sector | 21.1 | 14.7 | 14.1 |
| of which | |||
| Fiscal Resource | 21.1 | 14.7 | 14.1 |
| Non-cash | – | – | – |
| Capital | – | – | – |
| FTs | – | – | – |
| UK Funded AME | – | – | – |
| Level 3 | 2023-24 Outturn £m | 2024-25 ABR Budget £m | 2025-26 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| More Homes | 552.4 | 415.9 | 590.0 |
| Fuel Poverty & Housing Quality | 28.1 | 1.7 | 2.2 |
| Housing Support | 32.4 | 66.0 | 171.4 |
| Building Standards | 2.4 | 4.5 | 2.4 |
| Total Housing & Building Standards | 615.2 | 488.1 | 766.0 |
| of which | |||
| Fiscal Resource | 59.1 | 64.4 | 161.9 |
| Non-cash | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Capital | 468.9 | 454.4 | 604.1 |
| FTs | 72.7 | (30.8) | – |
| UK Funded AME | 14.5 | – | – |
The Affordable Housing Supply Programme comprises of Capital, Transfer of Management of Development Funding and Financial Transactions and totals £767.7 million in 2025-26.
| Level 3 | 2023-24 Outturn £m | 2024-25 ABR Budget £m | 2025-26 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cladding Remediation | 9.1 | 41.3 | 52.2 |
| Total Cladding Remediation | 9.1 | 41.3 | 52.2 |
| of which | |||
| Fiscal Resource | 3.1 | 6.7 | 5.5 |
| Non-cash | – | – | – |
| Capital | 5.9 | 34.6 | 46.7 |
| FTs | – | – | – |
| UK Funded AME | – | – | – |
| Level 3 | 2023-24 Outturn £m | 2024-25 ABR Budget £m | 2025-26 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Justice | 31.2 | 43.9 | 50.0 |
| Communities Analysis | 6.5 | 6.1 | 9.0 |
| Total Tackling Child Poverty & Social Justice | 37.7 | 50.0 | 59.0 |
| of which | |||
| Fiscal Resource | 37.5 | 49.9 | 56.5 |
| Non-cash | – | – | – |
| Capital | 0.2 | 0.2 | 2.5 |
| FTs | – | – | – |
| UK Funded AME | – | – | – |
| Level 3 | 2023-24 Outturn £m | 2024-25 ABR Budget £m | 2025-26 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator | 3.3 | 3.6 | 3.8 |
| Total Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator | 3.3 | 3.6 | 3.8 |
| of which | |||
| Fiscal Resource | 3.3 | 3.6 | 3.7 |
| Non-cash | – | – | 0.1 |
| Capital | – | – | – |
| FTs | – | – | – |
| UK Funded AME | – | – | – |
| Level 3 | 2023-24 Outturn £m | 2024-25 ABR Budget £m | 2025-26 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scottish Housing Regulator | 5.3 | 5.6 | 5.8 |
| Total Scottish Housing Regulator | 5.3 | 5.6 | 5.8 |
| of which | |||
| Fiscal Resource | 5.0 | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Non-cash | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Capital | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| FTs | – | – | – |
| UK Funded AME | – | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Level 3 | 2023-24 Outturn £m | 2024-25 ABR Budget £m | 2025-26 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equality, Inclusion & Human Rights | 44.6 | 52.8 | 58.9 |
| Total Equality, Inclusion & Human Rights | 44.6 | 52.8 | 58.9 |
| of which | |||
| Fiscal Resource | 44.6 | 52.8 | 58.9 |
| Non-cash | – | – | – |
| Capital | – | – | – |
| FTs | – | – | – |
| UK Funded AME | – | – | – |
| Level 3 | 2023-24 Outturn £m | 2024-25 ABR Budget £m | 2025-26 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scottish Welfare Fund – Administration | – | 0.1 | 5.5 |
| Social Security Advice, Policy & Programme | 200.2 | 226.2 | 178.2 |
| Social Security Scotland | 274.2 | 319.0 | 320.6 |
| Total Social Security | 474.3 | 545.3 | 504.3 |
| of which | |||
| Fiscal Resource | 342.0 | 389.3 | 389.9 |
| Non-cash | 48.2 | 84.8 | 70.4 |
| Capital | 84.1 | 71.3 | 44.0 |
| FTs | – | – | – |
| UK Funded AME | – | – | – |
| Level 3 | 2023-24 Outturn £m | 2024-25 ABR Budget £m | 2025-26 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scottish Welfare Fund | – | – | 35.5 |
| Carer Support Payment | 355.2 | 411.7 | 458.7 |
| Carer’s Allowance Supplement | 48.1 | 55.1 | 62.0 |
| Adult Disability Payment | 2,660.1 | 3,226.4 | 3,604.6 |
| Pension Age Disability Payment | 659.2 | 754.9 | 833.6 |
| Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance | 444.6 | 420.0 | 393.9 |
| Child Disability Payment | 425.3 | 450.1 | 617.7 |
| Industrial Injuries Disablement Scheme | 81.4 | 86.6 | 83.4 |
| Severe Disablement Allowance | 5.6 | 5.1 | 4.4 |
| Best Start Grant | 21.3 | 21.3 | 21.4 |
| Best Start Foods | 12.7 | 18.1 | 19.3 |
| Funeral Support Payment | 13.2 | 12.2 | 13.9 |
| Job Start Payment | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 |
| Young Carer Grant | 1.4 | 1.0 | 1.6 |
| Child Winter Heating Payment | 7.7 | 8.7 | 11.9 |
| Scottish Child Payment | 429.2 | 457.3 | 471.0 |
| Pension Age Winter Heating Payment | – | 32.0 | 100.6 |
| Winter Heating Payment | 23.4 | 24.4 | 28.3 |
| Total Social Security Assistance | 5,188.6 | 5,985.4 | 6,762.1 |
| of which | |||
| Fiscal Resource | 5,163.4 | 5,985.4 | 6,762.1 |
| Non-cash | – | – | – |
| Capital | – | – | – |
| FTs | – | – | – |
| UK Funded AME | 25.2 | – | – |
| Level 3 | 2023-24 Outturn £m | 2024-25 ABR Budget £m | 2025-26 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ukrainian Resettlement | 167.3 | 51.7 | 18.2 |
| Total Ukrainian Resettlement | 167.3 | 51.7 | 18.2 |
| of which | |||
| Fiscal Resource | 150.1 | 46.7 | 14.1 |
| Non-cash | – | – | – |
| Capital | 17.3 | 5.0 | 4.1 |
| FTs | – | – | – |
| UK Funded AME | – | – | – |
| Level 3 | 2023-24 Outturn £m | 2024-25 ABR Budget £m | 2025-26 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer of the Management of Development Fund (TMDF) | 92.2 | 92.2 | 92.2 |
| Total Social Justice Central Government Grants to Local Authorities | 92.2 | 92.2 | 92.2 |
| of which | |||
| Fiscal Resource | – | – | – |
| Non-cash | – | – | – |
| Capital | 92.2 | 92.2 | 92.2 |
| FTs | – | – | – |
| UK Funded AME | – | – | – |
Contact
Email: ScottishBudget@gov.scot
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