MSPs back Scottish Government's Budget at first stage Published on Wednesday 25 January 2012 18:35 MSPs have backed the Scottish Government's Budget at its first stage following a debate in Holyrood today. The SNP used its majority to pass its Budget Bill, setting out its spending plans for 2012/13, at stage one. Finance Secretary John Swinney, however, insisted the Government remained "eager to work constructively" with its opponents. Despite his calls for consensus, opposition parties were critical during the debate, with both Labour and the Conservatives saying the Budget did not do enough to address levels of unemployment. Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats said the plans were "lacking" in detail and the Greens labelled Mr Swinney's Bill as a "bad Budget." Mr Swinney said: "As in previous years, I am willing to consider alternative spending proposals, if other parties wish to advance them, provided that they are accompanied by proposals that identify from where necessary funding should be drawn." The Budget Bill was published last Friday and reflects the Spending Review published in September. Today's debate was the first of three stages required before it completes its passage through Holyrood. The Bill includes resources to deliver 25,000 modern apprenticeships and a guaranteed training or learning opportunity for every 16 to 19-year-old. It outlines infrastructure projects such as the new Forth Crossing and the new Glasgow Southern Hospitals project, as well as resources to continue the council tax freeze and maintain police and teacher numbers. Mr Swinney said: "This Government has taken the decisions to prioritise economic recovery, to ensure that Scotland is in a position to deal with the severe economic difficulties that we face, to build for the future and to ensure that our public services are supported in the years to come. That is the foundation of the Government's Budget. The Government looks forward to the debate on this issue in the course of the next two weeks, to listening to the arguments of the opposition, to responding where there are constructive and positive suggestions, and delivering a Budget that meet the needs of the people of Scotland. Opposition parties remained unconvinced, with Mr Swinney facing criticism over issues such as unemployment, college funding and the controversial retail levy. Labour finance spokesman Ken Macintosh said: "Overall, the Budget does not do enough to generate employment or to galvanise the Scottish economy. Rather than making damaging cuts, the SNP needs to invest in housing and colleges to tackle youth unemployment and maintain jobs and services. Conservative finance spokesman Gavin Brown said the Budget had to focus on jobs and the economy. He said: "At a time when unemployment is dangerously high, and a time when youth unemployment is at its highest, with 88,000 people in Scotland between the ages of 18 and 24 out of work, we are deciding to cut quite dramatically, in a single year, the college budget. That makes no financial sense. Mr Brown was also critical of the retail levy, which would bring in a new tax for large retailers selling alcohol and tobacco, saying it would make Scottish stores "less competitive than the rest of the UK." Liberal Democrat Liam McArthur said the Scottish Government had "significant additional funds" at its disposal since the draft Budget was published last September, as a result of additional consequentials from decisions taken by the UK Government. He said: "Sadly, the Budget Bill published last week provides no detail on how these resources will be spent." Green Party co-leader Patrick Harvie described the spending plans as a "bad Budget." John Swinney's rhetoric on achieving broad agreement on this Budget would be more credible if he acknowledged the many voices condemning his cuts to colleges and sustainable transport. MSPs voted 64 to 40 to pass the Budget Bill at stage one, with 14 abstentions.