The Scottish Government has launched its latest public service reform strategy, aiming to deliver £1 billion in savings over the next five years. A key element in the new strategy is a ‘more joined-up and more preventative approach’, returning to the principles set out in the Christie Commission Report, 14 years ago. The First Minister also said, ‘We must change the model of service delivery to promote positive outcomes, prioritise prevention and reduce demand for future services.’ In this briefing, we examine the concept of preventative spending and its potential contribution to delivering better public services and outcomes for people in Scotland.
We examine examples of preventative approaches in Scotland and the UK. In Scotland, these include the Scottish Child Payment (SCP), smoke-free legislation, Childsmile, Fair Start Scotland (FSS), and Minimum Unit Pricing of Alcohol (MUP). We also highlight Sure Start and research from Lancaster and Heriot-Watt universities on the topics of health and housing.
We also explain why preventative approaches have not been adopted. These include public sector accounting, operational silos, limited evaluation and corporate resistance. These issues can be addressed through improved public engagement and local decision-making.
We conclude that investing in prevention is not only more cost-effective, but it also leads to better outcomes for everyone. The principles of the Christie approach remain relevant today, even if implementation has been patchy. Preventative approaches require prioritised investment, structural and cultural reform, and a shift in how public services are organised. It must be a core element of the Scottish Government’s spending and policy frameworks. Decision-making must be localised, fully engaging service users and communities.