The Scottish Government is “procrastinating” on making important decisions relating to the public purse, the parliament’s finance committee has warned.

The cross-party committee, delivering its report on the Scottish Budget for 2024-25, said the government needed more long-term financial planning in order to ensure public finances are sustainable.

It was said it was “unclear” spending had be prioritised for its stated aims, and that in some instances “some individual decisions appear to conflict with the priorities of tackling poverty, growing the economy and prioritising public services”.

MSPs also expressed concern about the “uncertainty” surrounding possible behavioural impacts on the plan to create a new tax band for those earning over £75,000.

Convener Kenneth Gibson said: “The Scottish Government needs to deliver long-term financial planning. At present it gives the impression that it’s procrastinating on important decision-making that would help the sustainability of Scotland’s public finances, albeit in the medium and longer-term.”

The committee has also called on the government to explain why it delayed its public sector pay policy for 2024-25, an updated infrastructure project pipeline, and a financial strategy for public service reform.

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