John Swinney's Budget with £68m pledge to limit 'bedroom tax' impact The Scottish Government has pledged £20m to limit the impact of the so-called bedroom tax as part of its Budget. On Wednesday, Finance Secretary John Swinney unveiled the government's Budget for 2014-15 and 2015-16, which he claimed would protect household incomes and offset the impact of UK welfare reforms. In his address to the parliament, Mr Swinney claimed the fiscal plans would create jobs and contrasted with the approach of politicians at Westminister. He warned that welfare cuts, including the so-called bedroom tax or spare room subsidy, would take £4.5bn from the Scottish economy. Mr Swinney stated that £68m would be used to "mitigate" the impact of welfare changes, as well as a £20m fun to limit the impact of the so-called bedroom tax this year. He said: "This is a Budget focused on delivering investment, protecting household incomes and creating jobs. It is a Budget that values our public services, the people that work for them and what they achieve. It is a Budget that provides opportunities for our young people and security of care for our older people. And most of all, it is a Budget that demonstrates the benefits of decisions being made here, by those who care most about the future of Scotland. He repeated his pledge to abolish the so-called bedroom tax with independence should Scotland vote Yes next September. The controversial policy deducts benefits from those deemed to have spare bedrooms in their home. He added: "In the interim, we will continue to press the UK Government to abolish this tax and to increase the support for those hardest hit. We do not have the legal or financial powers over welfare benefits but neither are we a government that will walk by on the other side. He identified up to £20m this financial year to "help those struggling the most." The money will help local authorities to increase discretionary housing payments, he said. The Finance Secretary stated that £24m would be provided for a National Performance Centre for Sport, while the government aimed to drive affordable housing investment to over £1.35bn in the next four years. He also told MSPs the government would maintain a council tax freeze over the next two years. Under the Budget, the government plans to "fully fund" 125 hours of additional 125 hours of early learning and childcare provision at a cost of £190m.