Committee accuses Robison of ‘lack of respect’ after key strategy delayed again

The Finance Secretary has been accused of a “lack of respect” for Holyrood after her decision to delay publication of the Scottish Government’s Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) again.

SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson, convener of the Finance Committee, criticised Shona Robison for pushing back the publication date from May 29 to June 23.

“This indicates a lack of respect to the committee and a disregard for the integrity of the Parliament’s budget process, which is deeply disappointing,” Mr Gibson said in a letter to Ms Robison.

He accused the minister of not properly consulting the committee – something meant to happen under an agreement between the Government and the committee.

The agreement states the financial strategy should be “published each year following the UK Spring Statement and normally at least four weeks prior to summer recess”.

Mr Gibson said the delay could impact the ability of MSPs to scrutinise the Scottish Government’s proposals.

He said: “The committee also has significant concerns that the new timetable you set out would see the MTFS being published during the last week before the Scottish Parliament goes into summer recess, meaning the earliest opportunity for committee scrutiny of the MTFS would be when Parliament resumes in early September, over two months later.”

He said the committee had previously sought assurances that the financial strategy would be published no later than May.

He said it is the committee’s “firm view that the MTFS need not wait until the outcomes of the Scottish spending review and, indeed, with no MTFS since May 2023, details of the Scottish Government’s medium-term approach are now urgent”.

The MSP said the UK Chancellor had confirmed in January that the UK Spending Review would be announced on June 11, adding: “It is therefore unclear exactly what has changed since then to lead to this delay in publication of the MTFS.

“As you know, our Scottish Budget 2025-26 report highlighted ‘one area where the committee has repeatedly expressed concerns is the extended delays in publishing key strategic financial documents’, adding ‘we consider this to be indicative of a wider problem where vital medium- and longer-term financial planning within the Scottish Government is lacking’.

“It is deeply regrettable that despite the committee repeatedly reporting our concerns and growing frustration since early into this parliamentary session that this wider problem continues.”

He said the Finance Secretary must explain why the delay has happened and whether the Public Service Reform Strategy will also be delayed.

The Scottish Government has been approached for comment.