Scotland launches voluntary exit scheme for senior civil servants amid £1bn cut plan

Ministers in Scotland have introduced a voluntary exit scheme for senior civil servants, offering one month’s pay per year of service up to a 21-month maximum, and a six-month cap for those at retirement age. The initiative, communicated by Director General Miriam Craven, is framed as a necessary step to shrink and refocus the civil service in line with the Public Service Reform Strategy’s £1 billion savings target for 2030.

While the scheme is voluntary, the government stresses its commitment to a No Compulsory Redundancy Policy, despite recent union tensions over potential compulsory cuts. The scheme aims to reduce the workforce size, streamline management structures, and improve efficiency through technology and innovation. Exit payments exceeding £95,000 will require ministerial approval. The overall civil service workforce has already fallen by 12.7 % since recruitment controls began in 2022, but officials say further reductions are needed.