by Chris Bartter

Matt Smith, UNISON's Scottish Secretary has welcomed a Scottish Parliament Finance Committee report which exposes that front line service providers are bearing the brunt of government savings.

He urged the Executive to ensure that savings were being reinvested in public services.

Matt 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 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 www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/finance/reports-05/fir05-05-01.htm#report

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