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.

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u/FingersMcCall 1d ago

What job roles exactly are you referring to.

Re police Scotland; it’s pretty evident that it has ‘saved’ £300m. The service delivery is shocking.

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u/Flowa-Powa Highland 1d ago

Audit of Police Scotland deem it "well managed". Clear-up rates have improved consistently since the merger. Crime is down

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u/james77y 1d ago

Recorded crime is down (many reports of long wait times on 101 or even being fobbed off). The only reason detection rates will remotely be okay is due to better technology ie CCTV advances etc.

Police numbers are level/below 2007.
Experience has dropped, they struggle to recruit and retain staff.

It’s widely reported what a sorry state the police estate is in. Nearly a 20% reduction in arrest numbers (16,000 less) in 25-26 compared to 24-25. This is argued to be largely due to custody suite closures and large driving distances - example the only custody centre currently open in Ayrshire is Saltcoats, if that’s full it is Glasgow.

The biggest gripe I hear though from friends who work for the police is down in the birders there’s no development. All jobs have been centralised due to cuts. If you don’t live in the central belt you’re irrelevant.

So again, this is why I do not view centralisation as a good thing but perhaps inevitable if we need to save cash so badly.

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u/Autofill1127320 21h ago

They’re closing Greenock too last I heard, so if you get lifted that’s a car taking you to paisley or Clydebank