Scottish authorities lacks plan for £5bn black gap, auditor says

The Scottish authorities needed to introduce emergency spending curbs final yr to steadiness its funds, in addition to £500m of cuts.

At the time, Finance Secretary Shona Robison cited increased than anticipated public sector pay offers, Westminster austerity, inflation, the pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine.

Robison additionally stated ministers would draw down as much as £460m from the leasing public sale of seabed plots for main offshore wind tasks – which raised greater than £700m in 2022. The cash had been previously pledged, external to “help tackle the twin climate and biodiversity crises”.

Mr Boyle stated that the additional UK authorities funding, introduced within the chancellor’s Autumn Budget in October final yr, meant Scottish ministers didn’t must dip into the £460m renewables offshore wind pot.

Finance Secretary Shona Robison stated: “These unqualified accounts show that the Scottish government has once again demonstrated the firm grip we have on the public finances – despite the continued impact of inflation, pressure on public sector pay and wider geopolitical instability.”

She added: “The Scottish government cannot overspend on its budget and – as we do every year – we left a small underspend in 2024/25.

“There isn’t any lack of spending energy to the Scottish authorities and our efficient and prudent monetary administration means each penny has been reallocated for the present monetary yr so it’s spent the place it’s wanted most.”