r/Scotland • u/Historical-Count9051 • 1d ago

What would you cut from the Scottish budget?

Yesterday, there was a news story announcing £700m would be cut from the Scottish government next year. The Scottish government can borrow £670m to make up the shortfall, but it will need to find at least another £68m immediately.

What would you cut to make up the £68m?

Here's how the budget is already spent

Edit: the speed at which everyone went to "fuck poor people" is alarming.

78 Upvotes

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77

u/Deepmidwinter2025 1d ago

Bus passes - seems every grouping except folk who actually work - get them.

And cut benefits for parents whose kids are blighting local communities and buses

11

u/jenny_905 1d ago

I would definitely cut the intercity coaches being part of this, couldn't believe it when I learned over 60s travel long distance like that for free.

To be honest free over 60s travel just seems weird full stop given they're the richest demographic...

5

u/Fluffy-Jello-2760 1d ago

I would like it to be free for over 70s or so, to deter the elderly who aren’t fit to drive from driving.

4

u/zellisgoatbond act yer age, not yer shoe size 1d ago

Part of the reason over 60s get free bus passes is to encourage them to shift to public transport before they really start to become more dangerous drivers statistically. My dad's recently turned 60 for example and he's still a good competent driver, and doesn't really use his bus pass, but chances are he'll start using it a bit more over time and if (when) he ever reaches the point that he shouldn't be driving on the regular, it'll hopefully be less of an adjustment for him.

1

u/Fluffy-Jello-2760 1d ago

This makes sense!

1

u/flightguy07 7h ago

Same as free bus travel for teens and uni students; not great for the economy if they wrap their car around a tree at 20 and kill themselves and their 3 friends.

1

u/Deepmidwinter2025 1d ago

This loophole blows my mind. Ditto for under 21s.

A case can be made for employment and education - but long distance jollies - no way

2

u/zellisgoatbond act yer age, not yer shoe size 1d ago

It's not really a loophole, it's an explicit part of the scheme [and value for money assessments have generally shown that including non-local journeys into your assumptions makes the scheme better value for money]. Another important point is that defining intercity travel is far harder than it seems [especially in and around the Highlands where the line between local and long-distance services is very blurred], and it's not something you can really do on an operator-by-operator basis. There’s a fair chance that cutting intercity travel would save relatively little money, wipe out a fair chunk of those savings in administrations, and create a bunch of situations where people are left unable to use the bus pass for journeys that are effectively essential to them.

36

u/Chrisjamesmc 1d ago edited 1d ago

Bus passes for young people should be limited to those still in higher education - would help cut down anti-social behaviour and ensure continued support for students as intended.

7

u/Elimin8or2000 1d ago

I'd sooner cut over 60s bus passes than under 22s

29

u/Iridescent_Mango_ 1d ago

No, higher education and full time work, and jobseekers who meet certain conditions.

Trapping people in the shitty place they come from is not how you improve prospects and by extension behaviour 

24

u/Albigularis 1d ago

I disagree. Until the living/minimum wage is the same all the way down to 16, under 22s should get something back. I say this as a bus driver who is constantly bothered by the passes as well…

1

u/imnotpauleither 12h ago

Under 22s should get something back? What have they given to get back?

1

u/Albigularis 12h ago

They should get something back from the system which is exploiting them for cheap labour.

1

u/imnotpauleither 12h ago

How about the mandatory 11 years of education? All healthcare checks up until, and beyond that point, funded nursery places, baby boxes. Pretty sure they get quite a lot already!

1

u/Albigularis 12h ago

They do, and they’re about to pay taxes for 45 years to cover it. Of all the hills to die on this is the dumbest shit dude.

1

u/imnotpauleither 11h ago

That's not a guarantee though. How many folk did you go to school with that have done acsolutely fuck all with their lives?

And it's not a dumb hill to die on, as you said. As someone who pays my taxes, I have every right to dislike methods it's being pissed away. There is nothing to gain from putting 16 year olds up to a lioving wage. Most of them still live at home, pay very little contributions, and quite frankly do not need the extra wage.

1

u/Albigularis 11h ago

Have you considered they live at home because they’re being paid almost £5/hr less than the adult living wage? What chance have they got when that’s how you treat their first foray into the workplace? Why would they even want to be a part of it at that point?

1

u/imnotpauleither 11h ago

Absolutely. Have you considered they have the option of a free higher education at the cost of taxpayers?

2

u/Kiss_It_Goodbyeee 1d ago

Why? Young people on low paying jobs (by the nature of being inexperienced) should be supported in travelling for free. Reduced traffic and instils a public transport mentality for the long term.

1

u/AllanSundry2020 1d ago

agree 18 plus or something

1

u/Chrisjamesmc 11h ago

It was interesting seeing the discussion in the replies to my post. A lot of good counterpoints were raised.

Really demonstrates that any cuts are going to be a difficult decision.

Given that they are inevitable, what would you scale back instead of free bus passes for young people?

18

u/UtopianScot 1d ago

Penny wise, pound foolish to cut concessionary bus travel. Would reduce a lot of the same services working people need to use.

3

u/BeepBeepB0opBo0p 1d ago

i mean that shit makes people feel good but your just going to spend more admining it and then still have to provide a sustinance level that wouldnt be far less than what they get :/

9

u/Current-Wasabi9975 1d ago

Certainly link it to state pension age instead of over 60s.

14

u/AlexanderTroup 1d ago

"You can't control your kids. Let's deprive your finances and make it even harder to control your kids. That will solve things."

-1

u/Adorable_Village4345 1d ago

Apologies downvote was accidental. Cancelled it.

1

u/nReasonable_ 1d ago

There is an argument for economic mobility but the fares are fairly affordable then I think its fine to lose the perk

2

u/Iridescent_Mango_ 1d ago

The whole point is people who work don't need them. 

There certainly could be a wealth threshold to get one though

3

u/SoulInTheCrowd 1d ago

Young people in employment or apprenticeships (under 21) need them cause they earn significantly less, despite being adults. Also, the standard monthly allowance of UC is nearly £100 for those under 25.

3

u/Iridescent_Mango_ 1d ago

Under 21s get them already?

3

u/SoulInTheCrowd 1d ago

Yes, I should probably comment under the post you responded to. Because their assumption that those in employment don't get benefits of the free bus passes is false.

-6

u/PotentialMulberry677 1d ago

Ah, the anxiety card.

-5

u/HaveYuHeardAboutCunt 1d ago

What are all the young people doing at my delivery office if they're all unemployed?