Court challenge concerns forced ministers to postpone key adult social care reform as details of emergency budget cuts revealed

Ministers were forced to postpone plans to bring in minimum terms and conditions for adult social care workers due to concerns they could face a court challenge, it can be revealed.

This delay allowed ministers to save £38 million in committed spending in the emergency budget review earlier this autumn. But ministers stopped short of recommitting the funding for the next financial year ahead of the Scottish Budget, due to be set out by Deputy First Minister John Swinney today.

It comes alongside confirmation of a £17m raid on health board funding to help hit efficiencies targets, and a cut of £20m within the Primary Care Improvement Fund. Covid-19 funding was also heavily cut, with more than £100m found in that part of the health budget.