Jobs under threat as Scottish Parliament looks to cut costs

Published on Wednesday 30 June 2010 15:13

THE Scottish Parliament's 500 rank and file staff are facing "almost certain" job losses, it emerged today.

The threat hanging over the workers was revealed by Holyrood chief executive Paul Grice in a letter to MSPs.

It comes two months after he announced an 11.8 million cost-cutting drive to address the looming squeeze in public spending.

Mr Grice said: "It is almost certain that there will be a reduction in Scottish Parliament Service staff numbers over the next few years.

"I have told staff that we would do everything possible to avoid compulsory redundancies, and this is still the case."

Mr Grice said negotiations are taking place with trade unions about the possibility of offering a voluntary early redundancy scheme.

Security guards, committee clerks, researchers and event organisers directly employed by the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body (SPCB) are involved.

Contract staff such as cleaners and caterers will not be affected.

A review into Holyrood spending is being undertaken, with a target of cutting 15% from the current 78.7 million budget within three years.

Holyrood chiefs set an "indicative target" of a 15% reduction in 2013-14 from this year's Budget, amounting to about 11.8 million.

Mr Grice said that the exact levels of savings required "will take some time to establish".

The SPCB will present next year's budget bid to Holyrood's Finance Committee in November.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander told Holyrood's Finance Committee yesterday that UK Government departments, including the Scottish Government, will have their funding by about 25% next year.

Chancellor George Osborne will spell out the cuts in October's Spending Review.