Public Sector Jobs (Cuts)

Part of First Minister's Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at 12:00 pm on 2 December 2004.

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Photo of Rt Hon Jack McConnell Rt Hon Jack McConnell Labour 12:00, 2 December 2004

I have made it clear that we do not have an arbitrary job-cut target. We have a target to ensure that the resources that are available in Scotland's public services, in national and local government, are used for front-line services in education, health, transport and tackling crime. Those are vital services on which the people of Scotland depend and we want to ensure that resources are redirected to them.

Where people in national or local agencies can be retrained or redirected to work at the front line, so that there is direct benefit to members of the public, that will be welcome. There will be instances in which people's jobs have to go and it is right and proper that we review those circumstances. However, to impose an arbitrary job-cut target, as the SNP apparently wishes to do, would be wrong and unfair.