I was delighted to give evidence to the Scottish Parliament Finance and Constitution Committee last week as part of its pre-budget scrutiny for 2021/22.

I focussed my evidence on a number of key concepts and investment priorities, which I firmly believe will be a net saving on the public purse.  They will reduce the prohibitive, growing and increasingly unsustainable costs of mitigating the impacts of the biggest challenges facing all societies, namely climate change, biodiversity loss, poor public health & wellbeing, Covid-19 (and future pandemics) and growing inequalities.

Most of the saving will accrue in the long-term, but changes on approach and investment in them now is essential in order to deliver the savings.  In other words, ‘front loading’ of investment is required, as recommended in the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform (ECCLR) Committee’s recently published Green Recovery Inquiry Report.   
 

Key Concepts

A paradigm shift in our economic model and metrics

We must move away from the traditional economic model of endless growth where GDP is the dominant metric to more progressive models such as well-being economics, circular economy, natural capital and doughnut economics.  The values and principles behind Scotland’s National Performance Framework is an excellent starting point on this journey.

Preventative spend

We must reallocate more resources to preventative spend as recommended in the Christie Commission.  The principle of spend a little now to save more later has never been more relevant.  Preventative spend is all about investing in curing causes, rather than the financially unsustainable model of endlessly treating symptoms.  Such spend is particularly relevant in tackling the big challenges of the day outlined above.

Systems approach

We must take more of a systems approach.  Thinking of policy areas in isolation or silos is no longer appropriate.  For example, it is not just the health budget that should be investing in health outcomes; transport, climate change, land use, planning budgets for example also have a role to play in delivering such outcomes.  This will require greater policy alignment than at present.

I believe we are making some good progress on developing and applying the above concepts.  However, in order to deal with the challenges we are facing, I think the pace and scale of change needs to be accelerated greatly.

This brings me to my investment priorities.
 

Investment Priorities

Invest in recreational walking (and cycling) and active travel

My top investment priority is relatively simple, can be applied to everyone, everyday everywhere and represents excellent value for money.  Invest in physical activity, and especially welcoming and safe infrastructure for recreational walking and cycling and active travel (walking, wheeling and cycling for short everyday journeys).  This investment needs to be both capital and revenue.

Physical activity has been described as the best buy in public health by the Faculty of Public Health and a ‘wonder drug’ or ‘miracle cure’ by a previous CMO.  It is an excellent example of investing in preventative spend.

Investing in physical activity will not only promote good health and wellbeing generally but is of direct relevance to tackling Covid-19.  Evidence shows that physical activity, e.g. going for a walk, immediately and significantly enhances the immune system, especially for those who are either inactive or have underlying health conditions.  Therefore, one of the best ways of preparing the population’s resilience to Covid-19, and future pandemics, is to encourage everyone to walk, wheel and cycle more.

I was pleased to see that the ECCLR Committee agrees with me!  In its Green Recovery Inquiry Report, one of the recommendations is to ‘Develop and implement comprehensive, uninterrupted networks of safe, walking and cycling routes in cities, towns and villages’

Invest in public transport

We need to find ways of encouraging all of us to use private cars less, conventional and electric, and instead choose mass transit systems for longer journeys and active travel for shorter journeys.  Quite simply, public transport and active travel need to become relatively delightful when compared to using private cars.

And there is of course a strong link between public transport and walking and to a lesser extent cycling.  Most bus, train, tram and ferry journeys begin and end with a walk, which is great for encouraging physical activity.  However, we must think of the whole journey, not just the ‘main mode’ element of train journey.  Walking routes to and from the bus, bus stops and stations and information must also be delightful, as well as the bus journey itself.

Finally, a thought on pulling together the concepts and investment priorities I’ve mentioned in an example.  One of the questions I was asked by the Committee was how to find money for preventive spend on better health.  To paraphrase, I was asked, if we are to allocate more resources to physical activity interventions within a finite health budget, then does that mean I am suggesting potentially closing a hospital?  No, I am not, our health service including hospitals must be a top priority.

However, going back to my systems and policy alignment point, I would suggest looking across the whole of the Scottish budget.  In my view there is a clear solution, reallocate resources away from the roads infrastructure budget into preventative health spend.  This will help tackle climate change, improve public health and reduce inequalities, all of which are exacerbated by more and bigger roads.  Here again, I am pleased that the ECCLR Committee has come to similar view by recommending ‘prioritising investment in active and sustainable travel infrastructure rather than additional road capacity’.

Overall, the Scottish budget should be viewed as a whole.  It is a finite budget and so difficult decisions on prioritisation are required.  I suggest these decisions should be informed by the National Performance Framework’s values and how best to deliver the National Outcomes.  Climate change, health and inequalities impact assessment methodologies should be applied to determine the most appropriate means of allocating resources.

Remember, a nation’s vision and values are not only found in its strategy, but in its budget!

 

Written by Ian Findlay CBE, Paths for All Chief Officer. Follow Ian on Twitter @i_findlay