Local government spending in Scotland increased by 1.8% last year with education and social services taking up almost three quarters of the entire budget, according to latest Scottish Government figures.

Net revenue spending in 2013/14 on Scottish local authority services was £10.5bn of which 44% was on education, at £4.6bn, and 29% on social services at £3bn. Sixty two per cent of the 32 councils' net income came from government funding with 21% coming from non domestic rates and 17% from council tax.