Share your views on the Scottish Government’s Resource Spending Review Framework

The ALLIANCE welcomes views of our members to inform our response.

The Scottish Government has recently launched a multi-year Resource Spending Review Framework document (this link will take you away from our website).

The framework sets out a longer term plan for public spending to go alongside the Scottish Budget, covering the remainder of the parliamentary term in 2026-2027.

Background information

Resource spending is money that is spent on administration and the day-to-day delivery of services and programmes, such as school meals, concessionary bus passes and most public sector staff salaries. It gives Scottish Government delivery partners across the public and third sectors greater financial certainty to help plan and realise shared ambitions effectively.

The Scottish Government is seeking views on its Resource Spending Review Framework. The ALLIANCE is planning to respond to this consultation and welcomes views of our members to inform our response. The consultation closes on Sunday 27 March.

You can read more about the Resource Spending Review and the Resource Spending Review Framework on the Scottish Government website (this link will take you away from our website).. The full list of consultation questions is available in Annex A of the Scottish Government’s consultation document (pages 36 – 37) (this link will take you away from our website).

In November 2021, the ALLIANCE responded to the Finance and Public Administration Committee’s Call for Views on the framework.

Share your views

We would welcome contributions on the questions listed below. The questions are also available in Word form. We welcome your thoughts on the questions above by Friday 18 March 2022. You can email contributions to gillian.mcelroy@alliance-scotland.org.uk.

Question 1

The Resource Spending Review Framework will support the Scottish Government’s ambitions and three core aims. These are:

• To support progress towards meeting child poverty targets
• To address climate change
• To secure a stronger, fairer, greener economy

Do you agree that resource spending should focus on these? Are there any other priorities that should be considered?

What considerations need to be taken into account to support third sector organisations to contribute towards delivering these ambitions?

What impact will these priorities have on equality and human rights considerations of particular groups?

Question 2

The Scottish Government has identified ‘primary drivers’ of public spending over the Resource Spending Review period. These are summarised below:

• Changing demographics: an aging population will have an impact on funding available and the demands on public services, particularly in health and social care and through the social security system.
• Demand on the health service: an aging population, demand for higher quality and more accessible services, rising costs, and technological advancement are expected to impact costs in health spending.
• Public sector workforce: investment in the public sector workforce will be essential as we rebuild from COVID-19. It is expected that the workforce will continue to grow to deliver new social security benefits and through the creation of the National Care Service.
• Inflation: if high inflation continues, it can put pressure on public finances in many ways, including increased running costs of the Scottish Government and its agencies, higher demand for public services due to the cost of living crisis, and an increase in grant funding required to support third sector partners.

Are there any other public spending drivers that the Scottish Government should consider?

What impact will these drivers have on equality and human rights considerations of particular groups?

Question 3

The Scottish Government has identified the growth of the public sector workforce as a key driver of public spending. The Scottish Government wants to know what actions it can take to deliver effective public services, while ensuring that the sector is an attractive and rewarding place to work. Do you have any views on this?

What considerations does the Scottish Government need to take into account to ensure that the third sector is equipped to continue to support delivery of Scotland’s public services?

Question 4

The Scottish Government wants to engage with people and organisations across Scotland as it develops multi-year financial plans. How can it best continue engagement with people and organisations to continue the conversation on public spending?

Question 5

Is there anything not covered by the questions above that you think is important to highlight in this consultation?

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