Chamber debate: Strategic Budget Scrutiny

Linda spoke in the Finance Committee debate on 10 September:

“We must get beyond the game of ping-pong in which members argue, “It’s a cut”, “No it’s not”, “Yes, it is.” That is not constructive for anyone. Let us consider the facts. At the beginning of the three-year spending review, a settlement was agreed and publicly funded organisations were given an indication of their spending capacity for the period. Then, £500 million was wheeched away by the chancellor in his 2008 pre-budget report. The budget is now £500 million less than was previously advised. Public bodies will receive £500 million less than was expected. Some MSPs have worked in public services and some of them have probably been budget holders in public service organisations. If they had been promised funding and then had it withdrawn, they would have been in no doubt whatever that there had been a cut. That has to be faced.”

To read the full text of Linda’s speech, go to http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0910-02.htm#Col19538