Swinney to face FMQs after Holyrood passes Budget and grooming gangs announcement

The First Minister will take questions from the opposition after his government managed to pass its Budget.

The Budget was backed by 66 votes to 29, with 24 abstentions, on Wednesday evening.

Finance secretary Shona Robison said the Budget would “continue to protect the majority of taxpayers” in Scotland while also “supporting the investment needed in our public services”.

John Swinney is also likely to face questions on the announcement of a public inquiry into grooming gangs.

Professor Alexis Jay, who wrote the damning report that revealed mass abuse in Rotherham, will lead the investigation.

It comes after Swinney faced pressure to launch an inquiry from victims and opposition parties.

Education secretary Jenny Gilruth said the inquiry would focus on the prevalence of group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation now and in the recent past, whether brought forward by survivors or relating to findings from an ongoing independent review.