01 April 2004
The Scottish Executive is on course to meet the majority of targets set out in its draft budget for 2004/05, Finance and Public Services Minister Andy Kerr announced this week.
The Executive's annual evaluation report, the first stage of the Executive's 2005/06 budget process, showed that of the 162 targets, 13 had already been met, 133 were 'on course' and 11 were classified as 'slippage' – behind schedule. Of the remaining targets, some had not been categorised because data was not available.
These targets include those set during the 2002 Spending Review and others that were added to reflect the Executive's priorities following the publication of the Labour-Liberal Democrat 'Partnership for a Better Scotland' after the Scottish Parliament election last year.
Kerr said the report offered an opportunity for Parliament and the people of Scotland to comment on the Executive's priorities and strategy.
He added that the targets were just part of the story. 'They are underpinned by a rigorous and responsible approach to public finances which aims to ensure we squeeze every last penny out of the public pound,' he said.
The report showed that some of the Executive's best successes in meeting targets were in the area of public finance. It fulfilled its commitments on Best Value and on the provision of financial stability through the establishment of a three-year budgeting process for local authorities.
In the area of justice it met a number of targets, including the provision of places for prisoners, but not that for the reduction of serious crime.
In health, the Executive is on course to achieve a 50% cut in deaths from coronary heart disease in people under 75 by 2010. In education, it is on track to increase the number of teachers to 53,000 by 2007.
PFapr2004
