Scotland's generous system of universal benefits remains affordable despite the government facing a £5 billion blackhole in public spending, a senior SNP minister has insisted. Ivan McKee, recently appointed Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Reform, said maintaining a strong safety net for all who need it is vital.
McKee's Reform Plans
McKee, the MSP for Easterhouse and Springburn, has been tasked by First Minister John Swinney to make substantial savings to the public purse by 2031. His strategy includes reducing the number of quangos in Scotland and trimming the civil service headcount. McKee told the Record that these cuts can be achieved without compulsory redundancies, as staff retire or move to other jobs. The government also aims to cut backroom costs of running public agencies by a fifth through greater staff sharing and increased digitisation of services.
There are around 130 government agencies or public bodies that ultimately answer to SNP ministers, with broad cross-party support for reducing that number as a priority.
Benefits Not on the Chopping Block
Despite the fiscal pressure, McKee insisted the way to save public money is not by cutting benefits or reviewing eligibility. Around half of Scots—including McKee himself—are now entitled to a free bus pass, regardless of employment status. Scots also benefit from free prescriptions and university tuition, although the long-term affordability of free tuition is increasingly questioned by higher education leaders.
"The work I'm focused on is how we manage service delivery most efficiently and effectively," McKee said. "Welfare spending is not something within the scope of what I'm doing." He added that the vast majority of benefits help support people already in work, assisting with the cost of living crisis and enabling employment opportunities.
Rising Welfare Spending
It was revealed this week that Social Security Scotland spent £5.9 billion on payouts to 1.9 million recipients in the last financial year, an increase of 64 percent. Over half of that outlay—£3.35 billion—went on Adult Disability Payment, with more than half a million recipients.
Asked if he thought Scotland's welfare bill was too high, McKee said: "If you need it, you don't think so. Things can happen to people at any point in their life... There's lots of reasons people have to rely on that safety net, so it's important it's maintained."
Defending Universal Benefits
When questioned about whether people in full-time employment should receive a free bus pass, McKee responded: "I use my bus pass a lot. Half the population can effectively get free travel on buses. And I think that's a good thing. Those who earn a bit more, pay a wee bit more in tax, and we recognise that." He argued that universal services have the added benefit of everyone being in it together, ensuring good services for all.
