The UK Statistics Authority wrote to Craig Hoy MSP about Scottish local government funding

5 March 2026 · Penny Young, Chair, UK Statistics Authority

The letter, dated 5 March 2026, replies to correspondence of 26 January 2026. The UK Statistics Authority published it as Penny Young to Craig Hoy MSP: Scottish local government funding; it links to 1 official record. Below are 4 passages from the letter in the regulator's own words.

What the UK Statistics Authority wrote

“We recognise that there are competing views over the best way to capture comparisons of local government funding by the Scottish Government between years.”

“This is a technical subject area, and we conclude that there is value in both approaches: they provide different comparisons for different purposes.”

“Our view is that the Scottish Government could build on its recent developments by setting out its reasoning behind its presentation of the local government figures and comparisons in a more accessible manner.”

“We have shared our findings with the Scottish Government to clarify our expectations accordingly.”

From Penny Young, Chair, UK Statistics Authority, letter of 5 March 2026. Read the full letter.

Records the letter links to

• Table 4.15 in the Budget

Correspondence

• The letter it answered: Craig Hoy MSP to Ed Humpherson – Scottish local government funding (26 January 2026)

More on Craig Hoy.

Receipt