Jobs fears at COPFS
15 Apr 05
Job cuts likely as Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service takes share of efficiency review
Over 1,000 public sector jobs are to be axed as part of a efficiency drive, Scottish Executive ministers confirmed last night.
These include an expected 45 jobs at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, in a bid to save £135m from the annual cost of running the service.
The cuts will take effect by the year 2007-08. However 268 new positions will be created across the public sector over the same period, meaning a net loss of about 760.
The biggest loser will be the NHS where 604 jobs are likely to be lost, as part of an overall plan to make £745m a year in savings.
A spokesperson for the Executive said: "These are suggestions only as to how efficiency targets can be met. There will be no compulsory redundancies: a lot will be through people changing jobs or natural wastage."
Separately, Finance Minister Tom McCabe indicated to local authority councillors yesterday that he believes there are too many local authority chief executives and finance directors. The hint suggests a longer term move towards merger of some councils.