£3m overtime bonanza for Scots civil servants

Jun 29 2008 By Toby McDonald

SCOTLAND'S army of civil servants last year pocketed almost £3million in overtime.

The cost of Scottish Government staff's extra hours is almost 10 per cent of its wage bill - and up £200,000 on 2007.

Each of its 6000 workers earned an average of £500 overtime despite an SNP pledge to slash public sector wage bills.

Conservative finance spokesman Derek Brownlee MSP, said: "If we have overtime we must ensure it is properly scrutinised and only authorised where it is absolutely necessary."

The overtime rise came despite an increase in the number of civil servants.

The Tax Payers' Alliance, said: "If you are getting more staff through the door but struggling to get the job done in time, there is obviously something wrong."

Alex Salmond's party face a "summer of discontent" after the breakdown of public sector pay talks earlier this month.

A Government spokesman said: "We are committed to delivering an environment in which all staff can achieve a healthy work-life balance."