Scottish government confirms ‘urgent’ £500m cuts to balance budget

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Scotland’s finance secretary Shona Robison has announced up to £500m of spending cuts as she insisted “urgent action” was needed to ensure the government can balance its budget. But she told MSPs at Holyrood: “As we look ahead, it is clear that further significant action will be needed to reset the public finances onto a sustainable path.” Government departments will be asked to make a further £188m of additional savings, with these coming from across all portfolios, Ms Robison said. Were Scotland an independent country, we would not be paying the price for bad decisions taken at Westminster Shona Robison, Finance Secretary Meanwhile, the Scottish government will make up to £60m of further savings as part of “emergency spend controls”, focused on recruitment, overtime, travel and marketing. However, Scottish Conservative spokesperson Liz Smith said the independent Scottish Fiscal Commission had made “abundantly clear” that much of the financial pressure came from the Scottish government’s own decisions.