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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Ross Thomson

Lanarkshire MSP backs 'Open the Books' Bill to increase financial transparency of Scottish Government

Meghan Gallacher is backing plans to introduce an 'Open the Books' Bill to increase financial transparency of the Scottish Government.

The Conservative Central Scotland list MSP said the proposal for a Member’s Bill at Holyrood would end the SNP’s “secrecy” and deliver better value for taxpayers in Central Scotland.

Under the proposals, the bill would require the Scottish Government to publish a quarterly update of the budget, including a statement from the Finance Secretary.

It would also order the Scottish Government to publish monthly data on the uptake and pay-outs from each fund it operates, while publishing a value-for-money statement ahead of taking ownership of any private enterprise.

It would also improve transparency and post-legislative scrutiny of the annual Budget Bill.

Ms Gallacher told Lanarkshire Live : “The public in Central Scotland should be able to find out how every penny of their money is spent.

“The Scottish Conservatives’ Open the Books Bill would strengthen financial transparency and government accountability.

“Too often, the vast sums the SNP have at their disposal are shrouded in secrecy.

“We’ve all seen SNP Ministers insist that they are skint, only to find another £100 million to spend.

“There is a pressing need to open the books so that taxpayers in Central Scotland can get better value for money.”

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