Public finance systems in Scotland have failed to keep pace with the shift to results-based services taking place across the nation, a report from CIPFA Scotland has argued.
An independent Scotland would use public finances creatively to meet long-term policy goals, Finance Secretary John Swinney told CIPFA Scotland’s annual conference in Dundee today.
Auditors have criticised Scottish councils’ management of major capital projects after finding most schemes were late and cost ‘significantly’ more than first estimated.
A leaked Scottish Government memo has warned of potential public spending cuts in an independent Scotland due to the high volatility in tax revenues from the oil industry.
Rising oil and gas revenues have strengthened Scotland’s claim to be a net contributor to the UK public finances, according to the annual report on Scotland’s fiscal balance published today by the...
Public bodies in Scotland need to incorporate human rights more fully into their activities or face financial consequences, a Scottish campaigner has told Public Finance.
Revenue income and spending by Scottish local authorities both fell slightly in the year to April 2012, while capital expenditure rose by more than £300m, according to the annual survey by the...
The Scottish Government and NHS health boards have been urged to improve the way waiting lists are managed in the health service after auditors found some patient records had been altered to meet...
Scotland’s deputy first minister today dismissed UK government claims that an independent Scotland would be treated as a new applicant by the European Union and could face difficult negotiations to...
An independent Scotland should stick with sterling although this would mean agreeing some fiscal and spending policies with the rest of the UK, a commission set up by First Minister Alex Salmond...
Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney yesterday announced almost £50m of additional spending for housing and colleges before his £28bn Budget Bill was passed by Holyrood.
A cross-party Holyrood guarantee of homes for all Scotland’s homeless people could be scuppered by the UK coalition government’s austerity programme, housing charity Shelter Scotland has said.
The Scottish Government has today published a revised plan for capital spending, with a claim that the £3.1bn investment programme is supporting 40,000 jobs in the current year.
The merger of Scotland’s eight regional police forces into a single national body could cost the taxpayer more than £60m in redundancy deals for civilian staff.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has stepped in to end an embarrassing turf war between the two top figures in Scotland’s planned new national police force.
More than £20bn of the revenues raised in Scotland, including income tax, should be devolved to the Scottish Parliament to provide a ‘clear alternative’ to independence, the Institute for Public...
A compromise deal is expected later today to bring an end to an embarrassing turf war between the two top figures in Scotland’s planned new national police force.
Local authority arm’s-length bodies are to be brought within the scope of Scotland’s Freedom of Information legislation, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament yesterday
Scottish ministers will face strong pressure at Holyrood this afternoon to extend Freedom of Information legislation to cover contracted-out public services.
Is it right to spend public money on major sporting events, such as the Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup, at a time of financial austerity? Public Finance and Northern Trust recently hosted a debate...
Investing public money in major sports events has many benefits for the wider community, town hall chiefs agreed at a PF/Northern Trust Scottish dinner debate
MSPs have asked the Scottish Government for more information on its capital investment plans, saying the lack of detail makes it difficult to determine which projects will contribute to economic...
