An independent Scotland could become a bridge between the EU and the UK, and a “magnet for global investment”, first minister Nicola Sturgeon is expected to tell the SNP’s annual conference this...
Kerry Lorimer meets Gail Macgregor, resources spokesperson for the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, who has proved to be a doughty champion for local democracy and fiscal empowerment.
Scottish ministers have asked the Treasury to review the Scottish Government’s borrowing limits “as a matter of urgency” in the light of growing concerns over the volatility of tax receipts north of...
The Scottish Government has defended its decision to bail out private companies after it was criticised by auditors for having substantially reduced the value of £140m in loans and guarantees.
Scotland’s newer universities are bearing the brunt of cuts in government funding as they are less able to generate income from other sources, the Auditor General for Scotland has found.
The Scottish Government’s borrowing powers are likely to come under increasing pressure due to the volatility inherent in the fiscal framework, MSPs have heard.
The assignation of almost £6bn in VAT revenues to the Scottish Government could be undermined by the “disappointing” failure of HMRC to produce timely data, Scotland’s official forecaster has warned.
Edinburgh City Council’s plans for Britain’s first visitor levy have divided local opinion and are creating tensions in the wider tourism industry. Peter Hetherington examines the pros and cons of...
Ambiguity over the future of European structural funding post-Brexit has left economic development in Scotland, which benefits to the tune of €872m across the seven-year EU budget period, in an...
Health services across Scotland face “significant financial challenges”, with the integration of health and social care adding further complexity, according to analysis.
Scotland’s net fiscal balance has improved slightly on last year, with an increase in revenues outstripping a rise in public sector expenditure, according to the latest figures.
Weak consumer and business confidence fuelled by Brexit uncertainty is likely to hamper growth in Scotland in the coming months, with a fragile start to the year suggesting slow growth in the global...
Scotland’s Auditor General and the Accounts Commission are embarking on a major audit of the country’s early learning and childcare system to understand the impact of expanding services.
The mishandling of a high-profile IT project has left Scotland’s public sector pensions body facing a budget gap of up to £23m over the next five years.
The Scottish Government has been warned that it must show greater strategic leadership across the public sector if it is to achieve its digital ambitions.
Scottish councils have defended their use of funds set aside for emergencies to pay for essential services after new figures showed general fund reserves would dip below £1bn next year.
The introduction of universal credit, and in particular the five-week delay before receipt of the first payment, has led to an “unacceptable” rise in rent arrears north of the border.
The mass devolution of social security benefits next year represents a “very significant fiscal risk” to the Scottish budget, according to the body responsible for Scotland’s economic forecasts.
The Scottish Government is facing a budgetary shortfall of £1bn over the next three years in the wake of updated forecasts, which more accurately reflect income tax receipts north and south of the...
Child poverty remains one of Scotland’s most stubborn public policy conundrums – but new research suggests the key may lie in an overhaul of the universal credit system, which would target the...
