At the current rate, three more Calmac ferries would cost approaching £1 billion.

In February 2023, and once more missing me, thanks to our ‘quality’ MSM coverage:

From the Scottish Parliament:

In 2023-24 the amount paid out in devolved social security benefits is forecast to increase by around £1 billion – from £4.2 billion in 2022-23 to £5.2 billion in 2023-24. 

Most of the £1 billion increase in spending is focused on:

• Adult Disability Payment and Personal Independence Payment, increasing by £642 million and
• Scottish Child Payment, increasing by £216 million.

Together these two make up 81% of the increase in Social Security spending (£858 million out of the £1,057 million increase).

https://spice-spotlight.scot/2023/02/03/why-is-scotland-spending-an-additional-1-billion-on-social-security/#:~:text=these%20two%20benefits%3F-,Scottish%20Child%20Payment,the%20Parliament%20in%20November%202022.