Scottish Government spends less on travel

The Scottish Government claims it has cut its air and rail travel bills by over half a million pounds.

From July 2009 to June 2010, the total cost of air travel reduced by 18 per cent and the total cost of rail travel by 13.5 per cent, compared to the 12 month period July 2008 to June 2009.

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth John Swinney said:-“These are significant savings and show the Scottish Government is taking a lead in achieving greater efficiency from business practices. Our priority is always to identify measures which will maximise value for the public purse. In a period of financial constraint with budgets being squeezed by the UK Government, it is even more of an imperative.

“While these savings represent real progress, we must go even further to drive down costs and the rest of the public sector must follow our lead.”