At face value these recent press headlines are a cause for concern. The alleged £400 million under funding amounts to 1.9% of the Executive’s total discretionary spend and, if accurate, would indicate yet more pressure on Scotland’s already tight finances. However, the drive for efficiency savings announced in 2004 is testament to the Executive’s desire to free up scarce resources and get better value for money for every pound spent in the public sector. What then do we make of the potential for added pressures implied by these two headlines
