Question reference: S6O-01347
- Date lodged: 31 August 2022
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Current status: Answered by John Swinney on 8 September 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its discussions with the UK Government regarding the UK spending review and its impact on Scotland in relation to resources to take account of any proposed public sector pay uplifts and addressing the wider effects of inflation and the cost of living crisis.
Answer
I wrote to the former Chancellor of the Exchequer on 31 July to request that he consider providing appropriate funding for public sector pay, given that our current funding was set in last October’s UK Spending Review which was based on 3% pay uplifts. This followed a letter from the Finance Secretary and the Finance Ministers of the other devolved governments outlining their concerns, including on the cost crisis and public sector pay. This letter was sent on 15 July, following prior engagement on this when they met with the Chief Secretary in Cardiff in June. The Scottish Government is still awaiting a formal response to these letters. I raised these matters with the new Chancellor upon his appointment on 6 September and hope to receive a response from him shortly.