SNP must deliver better value for money

12.02.00am GMT Thu 15th Jan 2009

REDUCED USE OF CONSULTANCIES MORE DIFFICULT WITH SFT QUANGO - PURVIS

Responding to a report which reveals that the SNP could save £13 million a year with better planning and management of consultants, Liberal Democrat Finance spokesperson Jeremy Purvis has called on Scottish Ministers to scrap the expensive Scottish Futures Trust to deliver better value for money for taxpayers.

The report was published by Audit Scotland today (Thursday).

Commenting, Mr Purvis said:

“The SNP needs to make sure that taxpayer’s money isn’t being wasted on unnecessary external consultants.

“Consultancies should only be used when it has been shown that central government cannot carry out the work themselves.

“The Scottish Government should accept Audit Scotland’s recommendation to save up to £13 million a year by better management of consultants. A good start would be to scrap the Scottish Futures Trust, an expensive advisory quango.

“The SNP’s own figures put the cost of the marketing, PR, advisory and contingency costs of the SFT at £3.6 million over the next five years, which could be much better spent.”