Ivan McKee: “In the year to end March 2026, the number of Full Time Equivalent staff directly employed by the core Scottish…”

No one who uses or works in public services would say they are as streamlined or seamless as they should be and we want every pound of investment to make the greatest impact.

Empowering staff, service users and local communities to help rewire the design and delivery of services is key as every pound saved from inefficiency is a pound we can invest in care, education and communities.

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.