Ivan McKee: “It will be for the planning authority to interpret and apply NPF4 according to the circumstances of each individual…”

Our public service reform focuses on delivering the things that matter most to people, such as easier access to the NHS and more efficient services.

In the year to end March 2026, the number of Full Time Equivalent staff directly employed by the core Scottish Government has reduced by over 3%.

Poverty, poor health and inequality are not inevitable, they are challenges we can address earlier and more effectively with better outcomes for people.

Efficiencies isn’t shorthand for cuts to the frontline, quite the opposite. It’s about tackling unnecessary duplication, sharing services across organisations and making better use of data, digital tools and our public estate.