Greene responds to Audit Scotland warning about benefits funding gap

Responding to an embargoed Audit Scotland report that warns the SNP Government has failed to set out how it will manage a funding gap created by spending on devolved benefits, highlighting that the government’s spending on the Adult Disability Payment (ADP) last year was £141 million more than the funding available to it through the UK block grant, with spending on ADP forecast to grow to £770 million by 2029/30, Scottish Liberal Democrat economy spokesperson Jamie Greene MSP said:

“There needs to be a safety net, but the reality is that the SNP have completely failed to do the key, longer-term work that will help to grow the economy.

“Thousands of people are stuck on NHS waiting lists, whether it’s for mental health support or critical operations. If people can’t get help fast, they can’t get back to work and get on life.

“On top of that, the SNP’s costly blunders have done incalculable damage to our public services, from the health service to the ferries to our education system.

“Scotland deserves better than this, which is why my party has a plan to get everyone the healthcare they need when they need it and get Scotland moving again.”