Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 28 January 2021
28 Jan 2021 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Budget 2021-22
That point about the fiscal framework has actually now been recognised across the chamber. The cross-party Finance and Constitution Committee and independent stakeholders have recognised that the fiscal framework was already proving to be insufficient before Covid, and that the UK Government’s denial of any temporary fiscal flexibility to manage the volatility during the pandemic has compounded our financial challenge.
There is an opportunity to review the fiscal framework. Today, I announced that we will have some additional flexibilities next year. Those are welcome, but they are temporary and do not go far enough. For the sake of businesses and public services, it is important that we can manage the spending that we have available and do so in a flexible way.
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
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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
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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
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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
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Kate Forbes
SNP
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Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
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Kate Forbes
SNP
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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
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Kate Forbes
SNP
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