Brownlee: A pay freeze is not enough

On Wednesday the Scottish Government will publish its draft budget for 2011-12.

Derek Brownlee MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance & Sustainable Growth, says:

"A pay freeze will help protect jobs, but it doesn't save a single penny – it just stops the wage bill rising further

"The SNP Government needs to show real leadership. Wednesday's budget will show us whether the SNP is more interested in governing or electioneering. It is time the other parties joined the Conservatives by putting serious plans to save money on the table"

The Scottish Conservatives have so far proposed the following savings:

- A two-year pay freeze for MSPs and all public sector workers earning over £21,000.

- A recruitment freeze, except for essential posts: cutting the recruitment rate by 3% could save £450m

- Taking Scottish Water out of State control, which could save £140m

- Saving £37m by keeping prescription charges for those who currently pay

- Saving £138m by cutting absenteeism by 2%

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