The First Minister declined to say how many workers would be made redundant – despite being asked three times.
John Swinney has said he “can’t put a specific number” on how many jobs will be cut by his plans to axe NHS health boards.
The First Minister declined to say how many workers would be made redundant – despite being asked three times.
Existing boards are set to be merged into one for the west of Scotland and one for the east. There are separate plans for the islands.
Mr Swinney told BBC Scotland’s The Sunday Show: “The most important thing about the program for government is that we focus on the fact that there is a real focus on the economy and strengthening the economy within Scotland, and that’s about boosting the revenues and resources that are available for us to deliver and to deploy on public services.
“But what goes with that is the necessity for reform to make sure that we improve the public services that are delivering for people in communities and delivering the improvements that will deliver the substantial enhancements of the way in which individuals experience our public services.
“Now, of course, there will be change that comes out of that program, and the government will work with communities, with public authorities, to deliver on that over the course of the parliamentary term.”
When pushed about how many NHS jobs will be lost, Mr Swinney said: “I’ve been very open about the fact that I think public sector employment will fall over the course of this parliamentary term. But fundamentally, we have to deliver public services in communities with members of the public and in support of their needs.
“That will require public servants, the length and breadth of the country, to be delivering health and social care services.
“In all of that, we will make sure that there is appropriate and effective provision right across the country.
“There will be substantial public service employment as a consequence, but fundamentally, public services will be built around the needs of individuals to a much greater extent in the future than has been possible in the past.”
When asked a third time about how many jobs will be slashed, Mr Swinney said: “I can’t put a specific figure on that today, and I simply wouldn’t be giving a comprehensive answer if that was the case.
“What we’ve got to work our way through is a program of reform to make sure that we put people right at the very centre of the delivery of public services, so that they can see the enhancement in the provision of those services in their localities.
“And that will apply through all of the public service reform that we take forward, from the point of principle that services must improve for individuals, and we will ensure that Scotland is rewired, that public services are reimagined to make sure that we deliver on public expectations in the years to come.”
Labour urged the SNP to “come clean” about how many jobs are at risk.
Scottish Labour acting leader Jackie Baillie said: “It’s hard to tell whether John Swinney is being evasive or simply has no idea what he is going to do, but either way it’s not good enough.
“People’s jobs are on the line and our public services could be plunged into chaos – Scotland deserves to know what lies ahead.
“SNP chaos has done enough damage to our services and our finances already.
“The SNP must come clean about what it is planning, how many jobs are at risk and what it will mean for our public services.”