Scottish government confirms £500m in cuts ahead of budget

The finance secretary told parliament: “We cannot ignore the severe financial challenges we face.

“We will continue to be a fiscally responsible government and balance the budget each year – as we have done every year for 17 years and we will do again this year.”

The Scottish government introduced emergency curbs on all “non-essential” spending last month, including a recruitment freeze.

It said cost-cutting measures were necessary amid pay negotiations involving council workers, doctors, train drivers, nurses and teachers.

Ministers had already announced they would implement means-tested winter fuel payments, reintroduce peak rail fares, scrap free bus travel for people in the asylum system and delay a digital devices programme.

In addition to these measures, Ms Robison vowed the government would “maximise efficiencies” in public bodies.

She also said she would look to extend a recruitment freeze to public bodies, while “ensuring that frontline services in the like of our NHS, police and fire can recruit the staff they need”.