10 March 2025
An independent review of the Scottish Fiscal Commission was published today by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
The OECD said that the Commission “continues to stand out as a strong independent fiscal institution, comparing well to its peers in terms of its independence, analysis and communications.”
The report cautions that the fiscal context in which the Commission operates is evolving. The Scottish Government faces increasing budgetary pressures from a number of areas including healthcare costs, new social security measures and climate commitments.
The OECD said that the Commission plays a critical role in empowering political and public understanding of the fiscal challenges facing the Scottish Government and informing the debate around budget choices.
The Commission’s Chair, Professor Graeme Roy, said
“I am grateful to the OECD for carrying out this review. It’s vital that we have an independent, external and international perspective on our work and on the fiscal challenges facing Scotland. I am delighted by OECD’s assessment of the Fiscal Commission and I look forward to reflecting on their recommendations with the Scottish Parliament and Government.”
This review follows up on the OECD first review in 2019. It is required by the Scottish Fiscal Commission Act and reflects agreed best practice for independent fiscal institutions.
ENDS
Notes
1. The review is published by the OECD and is also available on the Scottish Fiscal Commission website. It was co-authored by Scherie Nicol (OECD) and Eddie Casey (OECD and Irish Fiscal Advisory Council). The review also benefited from contributions from Loes Verstegen (Netherlands Central Planning Bureau) as well as feedback from the OECD’s Working Party on Parliamentary Budget Offices and Independent Fiscal Institutions.
2. The Scottish Fiscal Commission is the independent fiscal institution for Scotland, established by the Scottish Fiscal Commission (2016) Act. Our statutory duty is to provide the independent and official forecasts of Scottish GDP, devolved tax revenue and devolved social security spending for the Scottish Government to use in its budget and financial planning. The Commission’s forecasts also assist the Parliament’s scrutiny of the Scottish Budget and Budget Bill. The Commission also publishes a series of Fiscal Sustainability Reports and Fiscal Trends commentaries.
3. The Scottish Fiscal Commission comprises: Professor Francis Breedon, Professor Domenico Lombardi, Professor David Ulph, and the Chair, Professor Graeme Roy.
Contact: press@fiscalcommission.scot