Transparency revolution in Scotland now extended to UK Government departments

The UK Government has announced that all departments are publishing spending over £25,000 for the last six months.

The Scottish Government already publishes online all expenditure of £25,000 and over, as the result of a concession won by the Scottish Conservatives at the last Budget process.

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

"Today's move by the Coalition Government is good news for UK taxpayers. In Scotland however, we already have this process, thanks to Scottish Conservative proposals to publish online all spending over £25,000 - excluding salaries - being adopted by the Scottish Government.

"In addition, further changes secured by us during the passage of the Public Service Reform Bill means that the public also have a right to see all spending on communications and special advisers, advertising and sponsorship, all overseas travel costs as well as all hospitality and entertainment payments. These measures alone could save millions of pounds by making public spending truly accountable for the first time and address abuses of public money which are becoming more and more apparent.

"This is a transparency revolution and I am pleased it is being extended down south. It will transform the relationship between government, public bodies and the taxpayer who foots the bill."

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