Scottish Government to pause free iPad scheme to cover council pay deals

The Scottish Government is to suspend its digital-inclusivity free iPad scheme to cover the cost of council pay deals, it has been reported.

In a letter, seen by the BBC, finance secretary Shona Robison said pausing funding for the scheme would save £10m.

Robison said it was “not a decision we (the government) have taken lightly”, adding that further details will be announced next week when MSPs return from recess.

The move come days after public finance minister Ivan McKee said digital inclusivity was “fundamental” for the government to achieve its key priorities.

Part of Connecting Scotland’s digital devices programme, the project was launched during Covid to help more people get online and it has distributed more than 60,000 devices since.

Earlier this month the Scottish Government announced £77.5m in funding to cover a proposed 4.3 per cent pay hike for council workers.

While the Unite and GMB trade unions have recommended that members accept the offer, Unison has recommended that its members reject it, arguing the proposed rise is not enough.

The funding cut comes a week after a new report from the auditor general showed one in six Scottish adults lacked the digital skills needed for everyday life.

The report claims this is leaving thousands unable to “fully realise their human rights”, such as the right to education or a fair trial.

Funding for digital devices and the other programmes is expected to be replaced next year.

Meanwhile, it is understood that other projects will also suffer funding cuts, including the expansion of the free school meals initiative and the Flood Risk Management Programme.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government is taking on significant additional financial pressure to fund this pay rise and the Cabinet Secretary for Finance has been clear that painful choices have had to be made. These decisions will be set out fully in due course.

“Ministers are committed to prioritising the reinstatement of funding in next year’s budget and remain focused on delivering on the priorities set out by the first minister across all portfolios."

They continued: “We know the vital role local government employees play in delivering local services which are valued by the public. This pay offer demonstrates just how much we value these workers too.

“It will provide an above-inflation pay increase for all council employees and ensure the most support is focused on the lowest paid. Ministers hope that members of GMB, Unison and Unite will vote to accept it.”