John Swinney outlined he is open to talks with all political parties including the Scottish Greens on their demands for free school meals for all primary school pupils, during today's First Minister's Questions. 

After the UK Chancellor delivered her budget yesterday, John Swinney said he welcomes Labour's plans and is open to talks with all opposition parties as his government prepares to deliver their budget in early December. 

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a £1.5 billion funding boost this financial year and a further £3.4 billion next year in her Government’s tax and spending plans on Wednesday.

At First Minister's Questions, one of the proposals Mr Swinney made clear he was considering for his budget was the roll out of free school meals for all primary school children. 

In the chamber, the Scottish Greens Co-leader Lorna Slater told parliament their "proudest moment" in government was rolling out free school meals for primaries four and five. 

However, the Scottish Government recently put an indefinite delay in their Programme for Government on the Scottish Government's roll out to all primary school children - including primary six and seven. 

Instead of universal provision, the rollout will only reach primary six and seven pupils whose families are in receipt of the Scottish child payment.

The Scottish Government was also defeated by MSPs last month who voted in a non-binding motion calling on ministers to recommit to the promise.

Outlining one budget demand, Ms Slater said: "Given the predicted 3.4 billion pounds due to be added to next year's Scottish budget, will the Scottish First Minister reinstate the promise to deliver free schools for the remaining pupils in primary six and seven by 2026 as endorsed by this parliament a few weeks ago?" 

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The First Minister named the proposal a "substantial proposition which can certainly be considered for the next financial year." 

Mr Swinney added: "That's a proposal to which we will certainly give consideration to in the budget process for the next financial year." 

However, the First Minister said his government still needs to explore whether or not the resources are there to support such proposals but gave Mr Slater the assurance he would "look at that question". 

At their most recent conference, the Scottish Greens passed a motion stating that the forthcoming Scottish budget must provide extra funding for local service for their party to back the government's plans. 

Ms Slater used another question in the chamber today to say the Government must reverse "the damaging cuts" the Scottish Government has made to the Nature Restoration Fund and active travel budgets. 

Yet, in his answer to this particular demand, Mr Swinney did not commit to reversing these cuts,  despite saying it was a matter of "deep regret" that he had to make these cuts. 

"My expectation is not that we have any new capacity that opens up in this financial year.", Mr Swinney added as he said this additional money is needed to balance the budget due to pay and inflationary costs." 

John Swinney also appeared to rule out cuts in income tax for Scots in his budget as he said cutting taxes would lead to cuts in public expenditure.

Speaking at First Minister’s Questions, he said: “That is what is involved, if you reduced taxation then you reduce public expenditure in the commensurate amount, because we have to balance the budget.”

Mr Swinney extended an openness to talks to all in the Scottish Parliament chamber ahead of the Scottish budget on December 4. 

The Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay also made his demands, saying the SNP should consider reducing taxes on Scotland’s workers and businesses. 

Criticising the UK budget at Holyrood today, Mr Findlay said, "Labour has chosen to hammer workers and declare war on business." 

This comes after Rachel Reeves announced she will have raise £40 billion worth of tax rises to plug a hole in the public finances and allow for investment in public services.

Businesses warned the £25bn increase in national insurance on employers announced in the budget could prevent them from hiring and the Office for Budget Responsibility forecasted that bosses would pass on 76 per cent of the tax rise to workers through lower wages.

National Insurance for employers will also go up by 1.2 percentage points to 15 per cent from April, while the level at which employers start paying NI for workers will drop from £9,100 to £5,000. 

Mr Swinney raised “significant uncertainty” stemming from the decision to insulate the public sector from the increase to employers’ national insurance contributions, which is understood to be subject to negotiation between the Treasury and the Scottish Government.

However, he defended the UK budget, in part, saying he has "sympathy" with the Labour Government after inheriting a "menacing agenda" from the previous UK Conservative government. 

Yesterday, the finance secretary Shona Robison said the UK budget was "a step in the right direction" , and hinted she would be open to a deal with Scottish Labour to get her own budget passed.

This afternoon, the First Minister said certain measures such as the continuation of  the cap on benefits for families with more than two children would  “prolong the agony” for some in Scotland. 

The First Minister said: “Where my regret comes from is the fact that in the financial estimates set out by the Chancellor yesterday, she’s indicated over the course of a three-year period there will be a £10 billion surplus in the budget.

“But she wasn’t able to find a single penny to lift the two-child cap that is putting and forcing families into poverty in our country today, and I regret that very deeply.

“While there are welcome steps in the Budget, there are issues that will prolong the agony of individuals in our society, and a Labour Government should address that and right the wrongs that they’re presiding over now.”

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said he had been clear the UK Government could not “fix every Tory mess” in one Budget, and would look to “make further progress over the course of a Labour Government”.

“We have to publish a Budget on December 4, and there is currently uncertainty about whether our public finances will be compensated in full for all that’s involved in advance of that Budget,” he said.

“That of course is not an insignificant sum, it’s a £500 million question.”

Mr Sarwar accused the First Minister of being “desperate” to criticise the UK Government on the Budget, adding he welcomed the increase in the block grant “through gritted teeth”.

“The fact is, this is a historic budget rise for the Scottish Government, delivered by a Labour Government,” he said.

Mr Sarwar went on to list a number of initiatives announced in the Budget, prompting Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone to gesture to the Labour leader to ask his question to the First Minister.

Included in the list was compensation for the victims of the infected blood scandal, which Mr Swinney said was “to their credit”, having had constituents who were impacted.

The Scottish Government's Finance Secretary has to put together a budget at Holyrood that can win the support of an opposition party by February 2025. If she is unable to do so, there could be an early election.