Full public debate needed on unaffordable policies

In today's meeting of the Finance Committee the Royal Society of Edinburgh called for an immediate review into whether some fully publicly funded policies should be continued in their current form.

They continued to say that no policy should be protected until the costs and benefits had been verified.

Member of the Finance Committee Alex Johnstone MSP said:

"The Council Tax freeze, delivered by Scottish Conservative votes in the last parliament, is real help in these tough times. However, we believe that other funding pressures need to be looked at, which is why in 2010 Scottish Conservatives demanded an independent, external review of the budget challenges.

"We need a full public debate about the steps which are needed to bring spending down to affordable levels while minimising the impact on public services. Free prescriptions for the rich and keeping Scottish Water under state control are missed opportunities and we simply cannot afford to keep doing this."

Back to all posts