There is less scope for the Scottish public sector to save on property costs than for the public sector in England, according to a Holyrood report published yesterday.

The Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee has reported that reductions in consultancy, supplier contracts and property costs were not as easy in Scotland, where the government has been called to find £332m in efficiency savings this year.

It follows evidence given by Cabinet Secretary John Swinney, who said that  the UK Government’s cuts would have an impact in Scotland, but the savings it highlights are “not ones in which the Scottish Government would necessarily be able to make savings in comparable areas.”

The report also said there was a “lack of urgency” in Scotland about dealing with looming spending cuts.

It says: “The Committee is of the view that the evidence of adequate preparation is at best patchy and it is concerned that there still appears to be a lack of urgency among some public sector leaders.”

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