The Scottish Government may reduce the number of Public Servants and sell off Government buildings in a plan to improve Government finances without raising taxes.
Deputy First Minister, Shona Robison said the Government would take a cautious approach to tax after being pressed by journalists on how it was to pay for new policies that included expanding free childcare and improving main transport links.
The Government is facing a£1 billion ($A1.9 billion) black hole in its Budget, putting pressure on tax and spending decisions.
Ms Robison (pictured) insisted the move was not about sacking anyone, saying some Departments, including Social Security Scotland, might actually grow as it was administrating more benefits.
“With people working at home more we don’t need the same configuration of buildings,” the Minister said.
Earlier, First Minister, Humza Yousaf said the introduction of new wealth taxes in Scotland should not be ruled out in the face of “extraordinary” pressure on the public finances.
Under the current system, all Scots who earn more than £28,000 ($A54,300) pay more in income tax than if they lived in England, with the gap growing wider for those on the highest salaries.
However, Ministers point to a range of benefits to people who live in Scotland, including no university fees and free prescriptions, which are not available to residents in other parts of the UK, as a justification for the difference.
Scottish Conservative Shadow Finance and Local Government Minister, Liz Smith said that despite Ms Robison’s remarks “the Deputy First Minister knows full well the Government is going to hike taxes even further for hard-working Scots this year.
“Ms Robison’s party has failed Scotland because it puts its obsession with independence above anything else — and working families have to pick up the tab,” Ms Smith said.
Edinburgh, 12 September 2023
