26 January 2007
Auditor general Bob Black has questioned the accuracy and reliability of the Scottish Executive's plans for £1.5bn efficiency savings.
At a meeting of the Scottish Parliament's finance committee this week he said further work would be needed because of significant weaknesses in information.
Black stressed that there was clear evidence of a commitment to improve public efficiency but added: 'It is not possible for us at this stage to give a general assurance about the accuracy and reliability of the efficiency gains. Further work will be necessary to demonstrate the impact on the levels of quality of service delivery.'
Finance Minister Tom McCabe said that action had been taken to address these issues and that the Executive was planning to 'step up a gear' in delivering efficiency savings.
Scottish National Party finance spokesman John Swinney asked if this meant the Executive was going to bring its 4.7% efficiency target closer to the UK target of 7.1%.
McCabe responded: 'We shall take decisions that best reflect the circumstances… in Scotland.'
PFjan2007
