Scottish Budget 2020-2021

Sets out our proposed spending and tax plans for 2020 to 2021, as presented to the Scottish Parliament.


Annex F: Scottish Government Operating Costs

2020-21 overview

The total operating costs for the Scottish Government are aligned with the portfolio budget that they support. The total operating costs for a portfolio are all the core Scottish Government staff and associated operating costs incurred by the portfolio, plus a share of the costs, such as accommodation, IT, legal services and HR, which cannot be readily attributed to a portfolio. The budget for corporate capital projects is allocated to the Finance, Economy and Fair Work portfolio as it was in 2019-20.

Portfolio total operating costs are summarised in Table F.01.

Table F.01: Total Operating Costs by Portfolio

Portfolio 2019-20
Budget
£m
2020-21
Budget
£m
Health and Sport 53.9 64.7
Communities and Local Government 35.8 40.2
Finance, Economy and Fair Work 98.1 100.9
Education and Skills 37.3 41.4
Justice 27.5 30.1
Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity 10.6 10.3
Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform 63.3 70.1
Rural Economy 89.0 95.4
Culture, Tourism and External Affairs 14.3 16.4
Social Security and Older People 68.1 61.4
Government Business and Constitutional Relations 9.9 11.1
Total 507.8 541.9

Overall, the total operating costs of the Scottish Government represents 1.1 per cent of the overall Scottish Budget (as measured by Total Managed Expenditure) of £49.288 billion.

Our priorities

Through the operating costs budget, we will ensure that the organisation has the capacity and capability to support the functions of government and the delivery of the priority outcomes and objectives set by Ministers and the people of Scotland.

In 2020-21 the operating costs budget will support the provision of staff to deliver the key priorities set out in portfolio chapters.

It will also:

  • secure maximum value for public money and invest further in the effectiveness of our people, systems and workplaces, building on significant efficiencies already achieved in procurement, estates, facilities and other operational costs; and
  • ensure a high-performing, efficient and engaged workforce which exemplifies our commitment to fair work, diversity, flexible working and partnership with the recognised trade unions.

Portfolio chapters

The change in presentation approach introduced and described in Scottish Budget 2019-20 impacts on the presentation of the tables within the portfolio chapters, and there is a break in the time series between 2018-19 and 2019-20. The 2019-20 and 2020-21 budget figures include all operating costs. For 2018-19 the budget figures have not been adjusted and correspond to the budget figures set out in Draft Budget 2018-19. This reflects the fact that in 2018-19 staffing costs were met from both individual portfolio budgets and the Administration budget.

Contact

Email: BudgetandSustainabilitySupport@gov.scot

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