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.
Despite substantial increases in spending, performance of some public services in Scotland and Wales continues to lag behind its pre-pandemic peak, according to new research.
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...
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...
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.
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 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.
The Scottish Government has been warned that its reliance on short-term budget fixes poses a significant risk to fiscal sustainability and future public service delivery.
The Scottish Government has been accused of failing to take a strategic approach to public finances, with delays in publishing key documents giving the impression of ministerial inertia.
A review of the fiscal arrangements between Scotland and the rest of the UK may be needed to address the “asymmetric shock” of climate change across the country, according to Scotland’s official...
A real-terms increase in funding will not be enough for Scottish councils to run preventative services that help people out of poverty, local leaders have warned.
Workforce shortages have forced Scottish NHS boards to spend more on expensive temporary staff to fill gaps, the Scottish Conservatives have claimed after making Freedom of Information requests.
