The aftermath of the Budget and the threat to the Scottish jobs market were at the centre of a feisty session of First Minister's Questions.
Scottish Labour leader in Holyrood Iain Gray and First Minister Alex Salmond crossed swords on the Budget arithmetic. Mr Gray characterised Mr Salmond's figures as "meaningless".
The SNP have claimed the Budget – details of which were released by Chancellor Alistair Darling on Wednesday – would threaten 9,000 jobs in Scotland and lead to budget cuts of nearly £500million, with a knock-on effect for public services.
In angry Holyrood exchanges, Mr Salmond claimed the exact figure was £496,682,000.
Mr Gray challenged him to follow the lead set by the Labour Government at Westminster, who were committed to safeguarding front-line services and to five per cent spending increases for local health services and a four per cent rise for schools.
The First Minister replied that he would not have spent billions on Trident nuclear submarines and £5billion on ID cards, two Labour initiatives.
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STV's Political Editor Bernard Ponsonby reacts to the Budget row -- and gives his predictions for the long-term impact of the Chancellor's proposals.
VIDEO: The fallout and the future
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The clashes began with Mr Gray listing benefits to Scots from the Budget and asking Mr Salmond to confirm that the Scottish budget would grow by £2.2billion over two years "in the teeth of a recession".
Mr Salmond said the answer came on page 241 of the "red book" published alongside the Budget. This showed "total managed expenditure" this year of £29.1billion in revenue and capital, followed by £29.3billion next year.
In real terms this would be £28.8billion next year, the first cut in the Scottish Budget "since the Tory years," said Mr Salmond. "Even Iain Gray must recognise that 28.8 is less than 29.1."
At one point, Mr Salmond taunted Labour, demanding: "Hands up in the Labour Party - who wants to spend £100billion on Trident while cutting public expenditure in Scotland?"
The Labour leader retorted: "Were we to cancel Trident, we would cut 11,000 jobs from the west of Scotland. Is that really the First Minister's brilliant idea to save the Scottish economy?"
The Labour leader said of the First Minister: "When is he going to grow up … and get on with the job?"
Mr Salmond said: "The Darling-Gray budget cuts are … top-slicing" and it means cuts of 9,000 jobs in Scotland.
"That's reality of what Labour in Westminster are forcing on the Scottish people.
"Does Iain Gray understand that level of reduction in funding for vital services in Scotland is not only bad for the economy and public services but threatens 9,000 jobs in Scotland?"
Annabel Goldie, the Scottish Tory leader, called Labour's £500million cuts "wildly optimistic estimates".
Tavish Scott, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, also joined in the Budget banter.
The question time was the first in three weeks. The last session on April 2 was followed by a fortnight break for Easter.
