Scottish government raids £460m green energy fund for public sector pay rises

Finance secretary says ‘tough decisions’ are needed to fill £1bn hole in the budget

Scottish ministers have raided a £460m green energy fund to help pay for higher than inflation pay deals that the government did not budget for.

Shona Robison, the Scottish finance secretary, said she needed to use the fund while also cutting non-essential spending by £500m to fill a £1bn hole in this year’s government finances.