Date: Weds 14 December 2005

Executive have efficiency wrong way round

UNISON welcomes Finance Committee Report

UNISON Scotland's public service union - today welcomed the report from the Scottish Parliament's Finance Committee and urged the Executive to ensure that savings were being reinvested in public services.

Matt Smith, UNISON's Scottish Secretary said "Rather than the publicised aim of releasing money to reinvest in public services at the sharp end, these cuts seem to be the wrong way round. UNISON welcomes the Finance Committee's findings that front line service providers are bearing the brunt of government savings.

"UNISON has said for some time that services need to be better resourced, especially in local government. In addition the Executive needs to fund equal pay restructuring and compensation in local government as the Government is doing in other public services.

"It is not efficient - either for service delivery or for the health of the economy - for front-line service providers to bear the brunt of savings."

See the report at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/finance/reports-05/fir05-05-01.htm#report

ENDS

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