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UPDATE AT 1721: As billed, the budget carried by 66 votes to 45, with 14 abstentions.

Supporting the budget were the SNP, the Tories, the Greens and Margo Macdonald. Labour voted against, the LibDems abstained.

In a separate vote, MSPs rejected a demand for the reinstatement of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link.

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. Scottish ministers say they'll match the English plan for a boiler scrappage scheme.

Which means what? That they will find £2m to provide £400 for everyone who chooses to replace the oldest generation of domestic boilers.

Which means what, seriously? That this is a further hook for the Greens in the budget talks - and an attempt to discomfit Labour.

You'll remember that Labour has been pressing for weeks for Holyrood to match the Westminster plan.

Scottish ministers indicated their emphasis was upon more general measures to improve fuel efficiency, targeted upon low-income families.

However, on the day of the budget, they've budged. They hope it will make it more difficult for Labour to say no.

Labour support

Some hope. Labour is insisting the budget fails the key test of reviving the economy, with particular reference to the abandonment of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link.

Labour also says that the new money announced for affordable housing falls far short of closing the gap which has opened in that spending programme as a result of the 2010-11 budget plans.

Can the SNP government live without Labour support? Yes.

PS: Row brewing here over the .

Instead of being considered by the health committee, it's been despatched to an ad hoc committee for scrutiny.

Margo's far from happy, sensing a stitch-up. More, the Scottish government is unhappy.

Bruce Crawford was outvoted in the business bureau.

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