In August last year it was revealed that the European Commission were refusing to release funds, ear-marked for unemployed and disadvantaged people, until the SNP had formulated an 'action plan' to resolve accounting regularities. The European Commission have confirmed that they are still not satisfied with the Scottish Government's action plan.
Commenting, Ian said
"Once again the Scottish Government have shown staggering incompetence in their handling of vital European Payments. Running in parallel to the farm payments debacle, this latest revelation is a further let down to the people of Scotland."
"This money should already be in the system, supporting unemployed and disadvantaged people. They have been failed by their own Government and serious questions must now be asked about what is going so badly wrong in Edinburgh".