Green: SFC report shows public sector reform falling short

Responding to the Scottish Fiscal Commission's fiscal update showing a weakening economic outlook, next year's budget being hit by a £720m income tax reconciliation, and the public sector workforce growing despite ministers promising they'd shrink it (including in the devolved civil service), Scottish Liberal Democrat public service reform spokesperson David Green MSP said:

"The Scottish Government has never truly faced up to the looming £5 billion black hole in its spending plans. Today's report shows that it is falling short of its already piecemeal measures.

"If ministers can't make the changes they'd planned to the civil service offices around them, what does that say about their ability to reshape the rest of the public sector?

"Despite record UK funding and people paying higher taxes in Scotland, the SNP aren’t delivering when it comes to health, education and the other services our communities rely upon.

"Scottish Liberal Democrats believe fair economic growth is the only credible way out of the cost of living crisis. That means backing business, helping people into better-paid work and making long-term investments – not erecting new trade barriers. It also means addressing the drag on our economy caused by poor policy in planning, skills and housing."