In this podcast, Graeme Roy and Emma Congreve are joined by Ali Hosie from the Scottish Human Rights Commission and Chris Birt from JRF in Scotland to look at how the Budget could be better at ensuring the budget has the impact on government priorities. We discuss the process that needs to sit around the budget to produce effective policies, as well as the type of policies that are likely to make a difference.
This podcast was recorded on the 15th December and makes reference to the Fraser of Allander Economic Commentary and annual Budget Report published that morning.
- https://fraserofallander.org/economic-commentary-december-2020/
- https://fraserofallander.org/scotlands-budget-report-2020/
More information on the budget work of the Scottish Human Rights Commission can be found here: https://www.scottishhumanrights.com/projects-and-programmes/human-rights-budget-work/
Latest work from JRF in Scotland can be found here: https://www.jrf.org.uk/our-work/scotland
Chair:
Graeme Roy (FAI)
Guests:
Emma Congreve (FAI), Ali Hosie (Scottish Human Rights Commission), Chris Birt (JRF in Scotland)
Timestamps:
(01:37) What does the FAI budget report say about these issues? (EC)
(04:14) What is a human rights based approach to budgeting? (AH)
(08:33) What are the key principles that the Scottish Government should be adhering to? (AH)
(11:40) How well is Scotland performing compared to other countries on these principles? (AH)
(14:25) How important is the overall budget process for addressing poverty? (CB)
(16:30) How could more be done to allow for better participation of people who’s lives are impacted by budget decisions? (CB)
(18:53) How can we get better at producing policy across portfolios, and avoid working in silos? (CB)
(21:38) What structures could help with doing this? (EC)
(25:50) What should be the top priorities for the Scottish Budget? (AH, CB, EC)
(34:42) What should economists and commentators focus on in reporting changes in the budget? (AH, CB)
Authors
Graeme Roy
Dean of External Engagement in the College of Social Sciences at Glasgow University and previously director of the Fraser of Allander Institute.
Emma Congreve is Principal Knowledge Exchange Fellow and Deputy Director at the Fraser of Allander Institute. Emma's work at the Institute is focussed on policy analysis, covering a wide range of areas of social and economic policy. Emma is an experienced economist and has previously held roles as a senior economist at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and as an economic adviser within the Scottish Government.
Ali Hosie
The Scottish Human Rights Commission
Chris Birt
Deputy Director JRF in Scotland