Public sector pay demands, help for displaced Ukrainians and rising inflation have put an enormous strain on Scotland’s budget, MSPs have heard. Deputy First Minister John Swinney said that £500m in cuts had been identified in order to ease the pressure, the BBC reports.In a statement in the Scottish Parliament, he set out reductions to planned spending, which included a reduction of £37m in the budget for concessionary fares.
The Deputy First Minister said these decisions were not ones the Scottish Government would have wanted to make but added that it was important that the scale of the challenge was clearly understood, particularly by those seeking further pay deals.
Director of CPT Scotland Paul White raised concerns about the potential reduction in the concessionary fares budget: “The concessionary budget is evidence-based and calculated to fairly reimburse bus operators for carrying concessionary passengers. Any budget cut that compromises that commitment undermines the principles of the scheme.
“If there is a possible £37m saving within this year’s concessions budget I would ask why that hasn’t been used to insulate bus passengers from the cost of living crisis by continuing the enhanced bus network support grant beyond October.”
