Scottish government spending constraints unavoidable – Robison

The finance secretary accepted the Barnett Formula allocated more public spending to Scotland to deal with issues such as poverty and rurality.

But she added: “We have the same spending challenges in the devolved administrations without the levers to be able to address them.

“This is not just exceptional to Scotland.”

Ms Robison said ministers have had to deal with “huge fiscal headwinds” in recent years due to the Covid pandemic, the cost of living crisis and soaring inflation.

She added: “All of these things impact on devolved administrations and the only lever we have, in-year, are spending controls.”

The minister defended the SNP administration’s record since 2007 and said the country’s finances were being run “efficiently”.

She also recognised that many pensioners would miss out on a winter fuel payment but added: “It has been an incredibly difficult decision for us to make.”

The UK benefit is due to be replaced by a Holyrood-run alternative – but ministers have confirmed it will be means tested, while the roll out has been delayed.

News of it being scrapped came as ministers were ordered to “constrain all but essential” spending to help pay for public sector pay deals.

Ms Robison has written to cabinet colleagues advising of stricter rules on discretionary spending, including a recruitment freeze on “all but essential” posts.

She said the government would have to make “difficult” choices to fund pay increases for public sector staff after Ms Reeves signalled cuts in the next UK budget.