A DEEP FREEZE

Expert blames SNP planning failure as school meals move also facés axe | Scottish Government outspends its income by £23bn after shortfall grows

- CHRIS MCCALL

AN EMERGENCY freeze on public spending has been ordered as the Scottish Government faces a series of "tough decisions" in order to balance its books.

The move comes after new figures showed the difference between public spending and government income in Scotland soared by £3.6billion to £22.7billion.

As part of the crackdown on spending a replacement benefit for the Winter Fuel Payment will no longer be paid to all older Scots following a similar move by the UK Government last month.

The payment will instead be restricted to "older people who receive relevant eligible benefits", SNP ministers announced yesterday.

Charity Age Scotland described the cut as "infuriating".

It warned the decision would mean at least a quarter of a million pensioners in Scotland on the lowest incomes or in fuel poverty would no longer receive the financial support.

The expansion of free school meals to children in primary six and seven is among the policies that could be delayed indefinitely as a result.

The freezing of peak time fares on ScotRail services is also expected to be reviewed and could end.

Finance Secretary Shona Robison has already written to her Cabinet colleagues to warn that public cash will be allowed to be spent only if it was essential to meet legal requirements or to prevent an economic crash.

It comes as the Scottish Government weighs up a series of further cutbacks to be announced in a statement to MSPs next month.

"This is going to be a really, really tough year," Robison told journalists during a briefing at Edinburgh's Napier University.