Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 28 January 2021
28 Jan 2021 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Budget 2021-22
I know that businesses need as much advance notice as possible to make decisions for the next financial year and that is why, although I have been clear that we cannot afford an extension without the UK Government doing something similar for a year, I have used every penny at my disposal to at least provide an initial three-month extension, with the reassurance that, if there is a further extension by the UK Government, I will follow suit. However, businesses cannot wait until 3 March to know about that extension and to have that certainty, as that would leave them only a matter of weeks before the end of their financial year. Therefore, although with this decision we go as far as we can, I strongly urge the chancellor to give that certainty to businesses now and not to delay or dither as he has done so often on extending furlough.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani)
SNP
Good afternoon, everyone. I remind members that social distancing measures are in place in the chamber and across the campus. The next item of business is a...
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance (Kate Forbes)
SNP
Today’s budget comes almost a year after the first case of Covid-19 was notified in Scotland. The pandemic has shaken our society and economy to the core. Ev...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
The cabinet secretary will take questions on the issues that were raised in her statement. Those members who wish to ask a question should press their reques...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I thank the cabinet secretary for advance sight of her statement, and I take the opportunity, on behalf of Conservative members, to congratulate her on the r...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Could you please come to a close?
Murdo Fraser
Con
All the Government’s resources need to be devoted to tackling the pandemic and its economic consequences—not wasted on constitutional divisions. The budget p...
Kate Forbes
SNP
I thank Murdo Fraser for his kind wishes at the beginning of his statement. Murdo Fraser mentioned wasting time. I am standing here delivering a budget that...
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Lab
I, too, congratulate on behalf of the Scottish Labour Party the cabinet secretary on her engagement. That is, indeed, a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy ou...
Kate Forbes
SNP
I thank Jackie Baillie for her good wishes. She said quite a number of times that she welcomes elements of my statement. She also said that she looks forwar...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
We move to open questions. I have a lot of them, so I ask members to bear that in mind. We will try to get them all in.
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
Even though the budget is bigger than ever before, by quite some margin, the Parliament has a duty to spend every single penny wisely and to put our recovery...
Kate Forbes
SNP
I am delighted to hear that we have discussions planned. Laughter. That is fantastic. I look forward to engaging with the Liberal Democrats to secure support...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
Once again, we are hearing commitments on a green agenda while the motorways and trunk roads budget goes up, as it has done relentlessly. There is no sign of...
Kate Forbes
SNP
I point out that Patrick Harvie previously welcomed the Infrastructure Commission for Scotland’s decision to prioritise maintenance rather than replacement c...
Bruce Crawford (Stirling) (SNP)
SNP
I am pleased that the Scottish Government has committed to supporting 100 per cent business rates relief for at least the first three months of the new finan...
Kate Forbes
SNP
I know that businesses need as much advance notice as possible to make decisions for the next financial year and that is why, although I have been clear that...
Maurice Golden (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
Support for businesses is welcome, but one of the problems is that funds are not reaching businesses fast enough. It is often months between the SNP announci...
Kate Forbes
SNP
I agree with Maurice Golden on the importance of money reaching businesses, which is why I am so pleased that local government has been paying out tens of mi...
Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
It is clear that the immediate impacts of Brexit have fallen disproportionately on Scotland’s rural economies, such as that of Dumfries and Galloway in my So...
Kate Forbes
SNP
We recognise the acute impact that has been felt by our rural communities, whether they are in Emma Harper’s constituency or in the Highlands and Islands. I...
Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
I do not doubt the enormity of the challenge that the Government faces at this stage, so I congratulate Kate Forbes on the budget. I hope that she will take ...
Kate Forbes
SNP
I thank Alex Rowley for that and I make that commitment to work across party lines. Providing support specifically to young people is at the heart of our sk...
George Adam (Paisley) (SNP)
SNP
Many businesses in my constituency of Paisley have had a difficult year, although they appreciate the funding and support that they have received to date. In...
Kate Forbes
SNP
That point about the fiscal framework has actually now been recognised across the chamber. The cross-party Finance and Constitution Committee and independent...
Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
The cabinet secretary will be aware that UK Government support for the national health service during the pandemic has gone beyond the five-year forward view...
Kate Forbes
SNP
The short answer to that important question is yes. The Scottish budget takes total health portfolio funding to in excess of £16 billion, which is an increas...
Annabelle Ewing (Cowdenbeath) (SNP)
SNP
The cabinet secretary will be aware of how important council leisure centres are for local communities, and that is the case in my constituency of Cowdenbeat...
Kate Forbes
SNP
That is an important question, because we know that, for local government, not only has there been an increase in demand, which has put pressure on services,...
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
The Accounts Commission has identified a £767 million council funding gap as a result of the pandemic, and today’s budget announcement commits the Government...
Kate Forbes
SNP
Let me put one thing straight: there is no underspend this year. I have just allocated every penny of funding that we are looking to deploy just now. The fu...