Yesterday the budget for the next year was passed by the Scottish Parliament.
This Scotsman graphic shows the basic split.
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/news/SNP-spends-spends-spends-to.6715026.jp
Local Government gets quite a big chunk for educating children, filling potholes (and much more). The largest segment (as usual) is "Health" for hospitals, doctors, drugs etc.
It is often suggested (with a mix of cynicism and truth) that the UK doesn't really have an NHS but an N Illness S.
'We' all know that cycling is good for health (mental and physical) - so do a lot of health professionals and civil servants.
But 'cycling' is still/always mostly pigeonholed as 'transport' - and usually way down the the priority list there.
The NHS's future is set to include dealing with the realities of over-eating and under-exercising and (unless these cause a reverse in the trend) an increasingly ageing population.
A long term view might include ways of encouraging walking and cycling (which might need to include more restrictions on motor vehicles in town/city centres).
But politicians seldom look beyond the next election. The next Scottish one is less than three months away.
I wonder how many parties/candidates will be proposing things that alter the way resources are allocated - which might have longer lasting benefits.
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