Shona Robison, the Scottish finance secretary, said she needed to use the fund while also cutting nonessential spending by £500m to fill a £1bn hole in this year's finances.
The cuts include cancelling a flatrate rail fares scheme, dropping free buses for asylum seekers, allowing councils to divert money from flood schemes and nature projects, cutting green travel projects and banning non-essential recruitment.
She confirmed that £800m of that shortfall arose from public sector pay deals this year, which had helped avert a number of strikes.
This story is from the September 04, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 04, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Tielemans leads Villa triumph at Young Boys in flying start
An hour before kick-off the few hundred Aston Villa supporters admiring the view from their seats cheered the first rendition of the Champions League anthem over the speakers and their mood was similarly jubilant after watching their team ruthlessly dispatch the Swiss champions on their first foreign assignment at this level for 41 years.
Konaté and Van Dijk head Liverpool home after early Milan scare
A stirring comeback against Milan: say what you like about Arne Slot, but at least he knows his history.
Seventh heaven for United as Rashford tucks in for duck-shoot
Antony's penalty in this evisceration means the maligned wide man needs only two more goals to equal the three last season for Manchester United.
No magic bullet Why a British-Irish league is not the answer to rugby's financial problems
In a perfect world the countdown to a new season would be all about the rugby.
Biometric EU border checks expected to be delayed again
The full implementation of an EU entry-exit system introducing fingerprinting and facial recognition checks at ports and airports is expected to be delayed again amid fears over congestion and long queues.
Combs faces charges of sex trafficking and racketeering after arrest
Sean \"Diddy\" Combs is facing charges of sex trafficking and racketeering, according to a federal indictment unsealed yesterday that alleged he also engaged in kidnapping, forced labour, bribery and other crimes.
Pressure on Secret Service after Trump 'assassination attempt'
The Secret Service did not search the perimeter of the golf course where a suspect lurked for nearly 12 hours in the hope of killing Donald Trump, the agency has admitted.
'Hell on Earth' Children starve as civil war grinds on
In the small town of Tawila, in Sudan's North Darfur state, at least 10 children are dying of hunger every day.
First image of doomed Titan after implosion
The first picture of the Titan submersible following its deadly June 2023 implosion was revealed on Monday by the US Coast Guard as authorities opened a public hearing into the deaths of five people onboard.
Spain's green Socialist gets top European Commission role as leader sets out plans
Spain's outspoken Socialist deputy prime minister will take charge of Europe's \"clean transition\", it emerged yesterday, as Ursula von der Leyen outlined the choices for her team of 26 top officials.
