Scottish Public Finance Manual
- Last updated
- 11 November 2025 - see all updates
- Directorate
- Financial Management Directorate
- Topic
- Money and tax, Public sector
The Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM) is issued by the Scottish Ministers to provide guidance on the proper handling and reporting of public funds.
- First published
- 3 July 2025
- Last updated
- 11 November 2025 - show all updates
- All updates
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Update to the Major Investment Section to remove 2 paragraphs re IIB.
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Further text update to Annex 2 in the Counter Fraud section
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Text updates to the Counter Fraud section: Fraud, Annex 1, Annex 2 and Appendix 1. Also unpublished Annex 3 and Appendix 4.
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Paragraph added at the start of Annex B: investment in businesses by Scottish Ministers, part of the Borrowing, lending and Investment section.
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Updates to the Property, acquisition, disposal and Management section in line with the SPFM Strategic Review and request to take off line FGN 2024/03 AO Spend Control
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Update to a link in the Major Investments section and the addition of FGN 2025/04 and FGN 2025/05.
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Update to Major investment section - adding in a section on Digital Portfolio.
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Updated links for all framework templates linked in the Accountability section.
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Updates include the addition of annexes A, B, C and D. Annexes in the Delegated Authority section.
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Update to footnote in the borrowing, lending, and investment section.
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Updates to wording of Annex 2 Internal control checklist for Certificates of Assurance.
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New FGN note added - FGN 2025/03 financial memoranda that accompany Scottish Government bills.
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Updates to the following sections following SPFM Strategic Review: Foreword, Accountability (and annexes), risk and subsidy Control. Also the addition of FGN 2025/02 explaining the updates
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Link in point 23 of Settlement, Severance, Early Retirement, Redundancy section updated.
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numbering in Annex 2 Internal control checklist for Certificates of Assurance updated due to a typo
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Updated Annex 2 Internal control checklist for Certificates of Assurance, added FGN 2025/01 re CoA checklist and added in a word version of the checklist.
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updated missing text in document SPFM - Non-Ministerial Offices model framework document July 2024.
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Adding in FGN 2024/03 re the updated AO Spend Control Template and Guidance.
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Updating the SRO Appointment letter in the documents section to include a point on construction projects in the Annex.
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Executive agencies model framework document updated.
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Non-Ministerial Offices model framework document updated.
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Updating the SRO Appointment letter in the documents section to this years dates
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Updated link to 'On Board: A Guide for Members of Statutory Boards' within Governance statements chapter.
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Updates made to model framework document templates.
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Updates made to text within Procurement chapter.
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Replaced non-ministerial office model framework document and advisory non-departmental public bodies model framework with updated versions.
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Document updated with an additional date - Settlement Agreement supporting documentation - final confirmation of terms
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Replaced Non-Ministerial Offices model framework document
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Updates to the Settlement, Severance, Early Retirement and Redundancy section. The main section and Annex's A, B C have all been updated along with updated documents and a Finance Guidance Note to explain the changes
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Updated the Certificates of Assurance chapter, Annex 2 with the CoA checklist questions for 2023/24 and added a Finance Guidance note outling the changes.
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Updates made to proportionate due diligence wording, Accountable Officer tests guidance, risk exposure guidance, public bodies duties, monitoring and management, exit arrangements.
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Procurement chapter updated.
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Updated 'Major investment projects' paragraph 12 and the SRO appointment letter.
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