Scottish officials warn of deep service cuts if budget remains flat

MSPs heard stark warnings that a "flat cash" settlement for the next fiscal year could cripple key public services. Sarah Roughead, chief financial officer of Police Scotland, said unchanged funding would likely shrink the workforce and force a move toward reactive policing, jeopardising community work and violence-against-women initiatives. Andy Witty, director of strategic policy for Colleges Scotland, warned that colleges could face insolvency, job cuts and an inability to reform if funding does not rise.

Deputy general secretary Dave Moxham of the Scottish Trades Union Congress warned the cabinet secretary that the government cannot simply rearrange priorities and that "cuts upon cuts" are imminent. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations also warned of a "slow-motion apocalypse" for charities facing real-terms funding cuts. All testimony comes as the Scottish Government confronts an almost £5 billion budget gap by 2029-30, with Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth set to present tax and spending plans later this year.