Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 23 February 2016
23 Feb 2016 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Fiscal Framework
I thank the member for the assumption—I gratefully receive it—that I will still be First Minister at that time. I certainly give an undertaking to do that, should I still be First Minister then.
By necessity, much of what has been discussed in the past weeks and months has been behind closed doors in the private space of negotiations. However, the Scottish Government has, over the past few weeks in particular, deliberately decided to flush much of what was being discussed into the open because we felt that that was a healthier place for it to be.
We have to learn lessons ahead of a review and ensure that the review process, as well as being independently informed, is as transparent as possible.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
I have accepted a request from the First Minister to make an urgent statement to update the Parliament on the fiscal framework. I will allow around five minu...
The First Minister (Nicola Sturgeon)
SNP
I provided an update to Parliament earlier today on the negotiations between the United Kingdom and Scottish Governments to reach a deal on the fiscal framew...
Alex Rowley (Cowdenbeath) (Lab)
Lab
I very much welcome the statement, and I congratulate both Governments on coming together to deliver on the promises made by all parties in this chamber to d...
The First Minister
SNP
I thank Alex Rowley for his question and his support for the position that I have outlined today. I also take the opportunity to record my sincere thanks to ...
Ruth Davidson (Glasgow) (Con)
Con
I welcome the First Minister’s statement. Having spoken to the chancellor after the deal was signed, I know that the UK Government welcomes this positive out...
The First Minister
SNP
Let me tell members one thing that I will never do: describe our national Parliament as a “sub-state legislature”. That probably sums up one of the many diff...
Willie Rennie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD)
LD
On the substance of the agreement, does the First Minister not accept that it will be a lot more difficult to get the Treasury model out of the fiscal framew...
The First Minister
SNP
Willie Rennie should have listened more carefully to what I said. We have not allowed the Treasury model—any Treasury model—to become a default position. Tha...
Bruce Crawford (Stirling) (SNP)
SNP
I am very pleased that the agreement has been reached by the two Governments. Does the First Minister agree that it is now time for the Devolution (Further...
The First Minister
SNP
I am sure that the Deputy First Minister is already looking forward to that date with the Devolution (Further Powers) Committee. Laughter. Of course, the Dep...
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Lab
I offer my congratulations to both Governments, and in particular I single out the Deputy First Minister, who did much of the heavy lifting in the negotiatio...
The First Minister
SNP
As I said this afternoon, and have said again now, there has had to be give and take on both sides in reaching the agreement. When the draft heads of agreeme...
Alex Salmond (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP)
SNP
Every Chief Secretary to the Treasury since 1999 has sought to erode the funding of this Parliament, and every single First Minister has faced that situation...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I am not sure that there was a question there, First Minister.
The First Minister
SNP
I heard a question, Presiding Officer. I thank Alex Salmond for those comments and simply say, in a completely dispassionate and objective way, that I am onl...
Alison Johnstone (Lothian) (Green)
Green
I, too, thank the Deputy First Minister and all those who have worked hard to reach this point. Concerns have been raised, though, about the way in which muc...
The First Minister
SNP
I thank the member for the assumption—I gratefully receive it—that I will still be First Minister at that time. I certainly give an undertaking to do that, s...
Linda Fabiani (East Kilbride) (SNP)
SNP
In relation to that agreed review, will the First Minister reconfirm that, just as in the Smith process, decisions will rely on joint agreement, the Scottish...
The First Minister
SNP
The principle of joint agreement is extremely important. As I said, beyond the transition period that we are agreeing—which of course guarantees the no-detri...