Scotland's public sector watchdog has defended itself against claims by members of the Scottish Parliament that it might not be achieving best value following rising costs in its budget.
Detected fraud and overpayments among 1,300 public bodies has soared by 33% to £111m since the last sweep of their records two years ago, the Audit Commission revealed this week.
Government and local authority interaction with communities after the London bombings last July was 'well-intentioned' but 'could have been better co-ordinated', the Home Office has been warned.
Scottish business leaders have given cautious backing to a proposal to hand a share of income tax, corporation tax and VAT directly to the Scottish Executive rather than to the Treasury in London.
A bigger share of public expenditure must be invested in education over the next two decades if Scotland is to compete internationally and combat poverty and inequality, First Minister Jack McConnell...
This year's big winners at the Public Servants of the Year Awards work in very different parts of the public sector, but they share a commitment to helping disadvantaged young people turn their lives...
Scottish councils and public bodies have identified fraud and errors totalling £15m, following an investigation carried out as part of the National Fraud Initiative, Audit Scotland has disclosed.
Research shows how tough prison can be on families but Sharon Berry's charity, Storybook Dads, has gone a long way towards bringing inmates and their children closer together. Joseph McHugh reports
Books not Asbos are being used by a pioneering Edinburgh community library to challenge young people's antisocial behaviour and transform lives. Judy Hirst met the staff at Sighthill, who are...
New transport chief Douglas Alexander might imagine he has inherited a successful rail sector. But Christian Wolmar predicts a host of problems further down the track
As all the parties compete for a fresh image, the LibDems have taken a lead by appointing England's youngest MP as a top Treasury spokeswoman. Vivienne Russell talked to her
A £2.15bn ground-breaking agreement has brought benefits to the teaching profession in Scotland, a public sector watchdog has found. But a lack of performance measures makes it difficult to assess...
Spending on the national performing arts companies in Scotland is to be increased by more than 13% to a total of £22.5m for 2007/08, Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson announced this week.
A Scottish council and its partners are seeking a power that could pave the way for a legally backed authority to co-ordinate services, including those administered by other public agencies.
Local government is finally getting the attention it deserves, with its white paper and inquiry both due this year. But will anything change? Public Finance invited Sir Michael Lyons and a round...
A tool for local economic regeneration or an antisocial licence to print money? As competition hots up in the bidding war for the UK's first 'super-casino', Peter Hetherington talks to the councils...
