Scottish ministers should make it clear which manifesto promises are a priority as they face “tricky decisions” and a funding squeeze, the Institute for Fiscal Studies has said.
The Scottish Parliament has approved the 2026-27 Scottish Budget, with a pledge to maintain its commitment to shield those on lower incomes and support investment in public services.
In its analysis of the recent Scottish budget, the Institute of Fiscal Studies has warned that the government in Edinburgh will need to achieve unprecedented efficiency gains in order to deliver...
The cost of delivering services across Scottish councils is rising faster than available funding, raising serious questions about their financial sustainability over the next three to five years.
Scotland’s colleges have been warned that they will have to change the way they operate in the wake of swingeing funding cuts that have left almost one in three reporting a deficit.
Scottish Government plans to shed thousands of public sector jobs to plug a projected annual budget gap of £4.7bn have been described as “implausible” by leading economists.
The next Scottish Government will face a budget hit of more than £850m as growth in income tax revenue fails to keep pace with the rest of the UK, according to warnings from the nation’s official...
This year’s Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland report has shown a weakening of Scottish public finances, with the nation’s net fiscal deficit as a share of GDP rising from 9.7% to 11.7%....
The Scottish Government has said it plans to shed thousands of public sector jobs as part of a package of measures to plug a projected annual budget gap of £4.7bn.
The Scottish Government faces “significant pressures” on spending despite modest funding growth since its last budget, according to the nation’s economic forecaster.
Scottish councils face a budget shortfall of £647m this year as they grapple with surging cost pressures and intensifying demand for social care, the nation’s spending watchdog has warned.
Extra GP appointments, a “cost of living guarantee” and the scrapping of peak rail fares have been given top priority in the Scottish Government’s legislative programme for the next year.
The Scottish Government will face “significant challenges” funding devolved public services in the future because of the twin difficulties of an ageing population and worsening health, the nation’s...
The Scottish Fiscal Commission can play an important role in educating the population as the country faces “escalating challenges” to its economy and public finances, according to a review by the...
The Scottish Government’s increased surcharge on second and rental home purchases is “inconsistent with any sensible tax policy”, according to a leading think-tank.
Scottish councils have been warned that their increasing reliance on reserves to deal with the “severe financial pressures” they face is no longer sustainable.
The Scottish Government has prioritised spending on healthcare, housing and social security in a budget that sought to set a positive tone in the face of looming cost pressures and a deteriorating...
Reversing the Scottish Government’s 2024-25 cuts to affordable rented homes is needed to address “spiralling” waiting lists, housing associations have warned.
