Murdo Fraser challenges John Swinney over ‘fag packet’ NHS plans

The Scottish Conservatives have challenged John Swinney to reveal public sector reform details to parliament.

The first minister announced sweeping changes to public services in his Programme for Government (PfG), including the amalgamation of Scotland’s 14 health boards into two.

However, little is known about what the changes will mean in practice, with only 32 words in the PfG dedicated to the health board change.

Appearing on BBC Scotland at the weekend, Swinney could not give a “specific figure” on how many jobs would be lost in the process or how much public money would be saved.

Tory public service reform spokesman Murdo Fraser said the proposals appear to have been “written on the back of a fag packet” and has called on Swinney to make an urgent appearance before Holyrood to answer questions on the plans.

Fraser said: “John Swinney cannot answer basic questions about his proposed public sector reforms that he was so keen to talk up last week.

“His performance on the BBC was a masterclass in evasion. He couldn’t say how many jobs will be lost or what savings will be involved.

“Swinney must urgently come to parliament and make a statement that finally gives full details on exactly what his reforms will mean for Scotland.

“The current proposals look like they have been written on the back of a fag packet and Swinney must open himself up to scrutiny from MSPs on reforms that would have huge changes for the public sector.

“We welcome any plans to reduce the public sector which is bloated and inefficient under the SNP. But the shocking lack of detail and refusal to answer basic questions raises serious doubts about whether Swinney has the stomach for the fight or even has a clue about what he wants to do.

“It is time for him to finally show he is serious about tackling the £5bn black hole his party have created in Scotland’s finances and that starts by coming to parliament and giving MSPs and Scots the full details on his changes.”

The comments come one day ahead of a Scottish Government debate on the economy.

When asked about potential job losses on the Sunday Show, Swinney said: “I can’t put a specific figure on that today and I simply wouldn’t be giving a comprehensive answer if that was the case.

“What we've got to work our way through is a programme of reform to make sure that we put people right at the very centre of the delivery of public services so they can see the enhancement in the provision of those services in their localities.”

When asked about the predicted £5bn public finance gap, he said there are “lots of variables” in the public finances and that his party had shown an ability to balance the budget – a legal requirement – throughout periods of acute pressure including the financial crash, Covid and Brexit.

Speaking in Glasgow, Swinney said: “We’ve got a process to go through of making sure our public services are equipped for the future and that’s exactly what the public service reform programme is about.

“Our public services clearly rely on members of the public to deliver them – that is a central point of how we deliver our public services. So, as we talk through all of the discussions about the reform of the public services, we will work with all our partners in the trade unions and the third sector and local government and the National Health Service to make sure that we deliver those improvements to public services in a way that also delivers frontline employment for individuals in Scotland.”