Scottish Ministers are considering slashing spending on the troubled National Care Service in a bid to free up money for the Budget.
Pausing tens of millions of pounds of funding to implement the project are being discussed ahead of Thursday’s statement.
The merger of social care into a single national service by 2026 is under huge pressure due to a lack of clarity about the final price tag.
Holyrood’s Finance Committee recently raised “significant concerns” about the finances behind the massive overhaul.
With Acting Finance Secretary John Swinney due to present the Budget this week, the Government is looking at delaying spending on the NCS to free up money.
According to official documents, between £63m and £95m has been earmarked in 2023/24 to establish the new service.
The bulk is for the staffing associated with the NCS, with a smaller portion allocated for new care boards.
The Record understands the Government is examining “minimal” funding so that a figure closer to £10m is spent, rather than £90m.
Such a move would inevitably raise questions over whether the 2026 date will be met.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf hinted in June that there could be leeway:
“I’m open to discussions… about whether there is a way of potentially exploring how we phase the National Care Service,” he said.
Tory MSP Craig Hoy said: “Spending on this massive SNP vanity project shouldn’t just be delayed - it should be scrapped altogether.
“The SNP have continued to ignore repeated concerns about their flawed and costly National Care Service plan and it’s becoming clearer by the day that their proposals don’t stack up.
“Whether they’re warned by parliamentary committees, told by experts that their plans are unworkable, or faced with overwhelming public opposition, they still want to divert taxpayer’s money to this dangerous centralisation project.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Ministers are committed to ending the postcode lottery in care provision in Scotland through the delivery of the National Care Service. The Deputy First Minister will set out the 2023-24 Budget to the Scottish Parliament on 15 December.”
It comes after we revealed the SNP/Green Government is considering higher income tax rates for Scots earning over £43,663 in the Budget.
Ministers are looking at whether to put up the higher and top rates, presently set at 41p and 46p, to shore up public services.
Under the current system, the 41 per cent higher rate applies to income between £43,663 and £150,000.
The 46p rate kicks in for income over £150,000.
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