The Scots’ spending conundrum

THE big rises in public spending announced by Gordon Brown last month have duly given the government gratifying rises in its opinion-poll ratings. Between now and the general election, the chancellor will be using the target-setting public-service agreements negotiated between the Treasury and the spending ministries to make sure that his generosity produces noticeable results, especially in education and health. But Labour has a problem. Thanks to its own constitutional reforms, especially devolution to Scotland, Mr Brown has no control over a good chunk of this spending.