COMMITTEE SETS OUT SCALE OF CUTS CHALLENGE

COMMITTEE SETS OUT SCALE OF CUTS CHALLENGE
MOST SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE SINCE DEVOLUTION
The Scottish Parliament’s Finance committee today warned that coming cuts to public spending amount to “the most significant challenge that both the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament have faced since devolution”.
Published as it becomes increasingly clear that the new UK administration plans sharp and serious cuts to public spending the Committee calls for all leaders to be open and realistic about budget cuts.
Commenting SNP MSP Joe FitzPatrick, a member of the Committee said:
“Parliament, the Government and all parts of the public sector face major challenges ahead.
“This report makes clear that it is no longer credible for politicians of any party to demand more money for pet projects or complain over necessary action to prepare for reductions in public spending.  It is now important to work on how we can improve services with less.
“For anyone to call for more spending without first putting forward responsible suggestions for savings demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of the budget situation we face. 
“The Scottish Government’s Independent Budget Review ordered by John Swinney has a key role to play in looking at the options facing Scotland and it is important that organisations that can work together to improve services do so.
“Unfortunately as a result of the pocket money funding system operated by London for Scotland it is difficult to plan ahead without knowing how much will be cut and when as the UK Government responds to Labour’s ever increasing public sector debts.  A situation that emphasises the need for Scotland to take financial responsibility for her own affairs.
“It is now essential that every politician in the Scottish Parliament of all parties, in local government and leaders of public organisations look responsibly at the situation we now face, accept the hard challenges ahead and work alongside the Scottish Government to ensure we can protect essential services.”