Commenting on official figures about Government efficiency savings, Liberal Democrat Finance spokesperson Jeremy Purvis said:

“In response to Labour’s dreadful handling of the economy, genuine efficiency savings are more important now than ever before.

“But the SNP should go further. If they are to deliver better value for the public purse, then they need to cut the £401 million pay bill for the highest paid public sector bosses rather than simply rearranging money like this.

“Time after time in this report Ministers identify a department that has made savings and then simply pounce on that freed-up resource claiming it for “Ministers’ priorities”, the details of which are not given. This is bypassing the proper budget process, which should be open and transparent and it won’t be an incentive for Government departments to deliver services more effectively for the public.”