Delay to Scottish Government financial strategy ‘unacceptable’

The delay to Scotland’s Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and tax plan is unacceptable, Holyrood’s Finance Committee has said, as it pushed for an earlier date.

In a letter to the committee on Tuesday, Finance Secretary Shona Robison said the publication had to be delayed until 20 June due to the appointment of new First Minister John Swinney.

Finance and Public Administration Committee convener Kenneth Gibson, however, was upset by the delay, claiming it will mean there is less time for scrutiny of what will be major government plans before the summer recess.

In a letter sent on Wednesday, he urged the minister to bring forward the announcement to 12 June; a date agreed on unanimously by the committee.

“The committee is deeply disappointed at the significant delay in publishing the MTFS,” Gibson said.

“While we understand that a short delay might be required to allow the incoming First Minister to take a view on critical policy issues and align the fiscal strategy with the government’s wider approach, we do not accept that a three-week delay is justified.

“As you note in your letter, this time-frame does not meet the expectation set out in the written agreement between the committee and the Scottish Government that the MTFS be published at least four weeks prior to summer recess.”

Other Holyrood committees, he added, will also struggle to use the MTFS to inform their pre-budget scrutiny before the draft budget for 2025-26 is published – something usually done in December.

“The committee considers that the time-frame proposed is therefore unacceptable and would significantly undermine the ability of the Scottish Parliament’s committees to effectively perform our scrutiny role of Scotland’s public finances,” said Gibson.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said: “Publication of this year’s MTFS has been postponed to allow time for the First Minister to take a view on critical policy issues and to align the fiscal strategy with the Scottish Government’s wider policy priorities.

“It remains the Scottish Government’s intention to publish on 20 June.

“The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring MSPs have full opportunity to scrutinise the strategy and related documents, and the Finance Secretary looks forward to engaging with the committee for this purpose.

“The Finance Secretary has received the letter and will reply in due course.”

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