Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 25 February 2021
25 Feb 2021 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill: Stage 1
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance is indeed a fortunate person, because the budget that she is setting out today is the largest in the history of devolution. It is the highest ever budget that a Scottish Administration has had to deal with, and more money than any of her predecessors in office had. That is all thanks to the broad shoulders and the deep pockets of the British Government, which is supporting individuals, businesses and public services in Scotland at this difficult time.
In this budget, revenue has increased, according to the Scottish Parliament information centre—
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Lewis Macdonald)
Lab
The next item of businesses is a debate on motion S5M-24224, in the name of Kate Forbes, on the Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill at stage 1. 14:58
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance (Kate Forbes)
SNP
I start by thanking the Finance and Constitution Committee for its report, to which I will respond ahead of stage 3. Today, we are reminded of the differenc...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
Does the cabinet secretary accept the case that has been put forward by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities that the core funding for local governme...
Kate Forbes
SNP
Murdo Fraser has picked up that there is a difference between Covid consequential funding and our own core settlement funding. Out of our core settlement fun...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance is indeed a fortunate person, because the budget that she is setting out today is the largest in the history of devolution....
The Minister for Trade, Innovation and Public Finance (Ivan McKee)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Murdo Fraser
Con
Of course.
Ivan McKee
SNP
Murdo Fraser talks about broad shoulders, but can he tell us how much of that money the UK Government has had to borrow?
Murdo Fraser
Con
Let us just be thankful—Interruption. Let us just be thankful that we are part of Great Britain, which is the fifth largest economy in the world, with the st...
Kate Forbes
SNP
I agree with the member that all those things are wonderful. Of course, the Scottish public will not enjoy any of that unless the budget passes. Will the Tor...
Murdo Fraser
Con
The Scottish people will not enjoy any of it if we break our link with the British Government, which is providing all that money to back up the public servic...
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Lab
When the Parliament passed the budget on 5 March 2020, we could not have foreseen the year that lay ahead. Eight days later, the first patient in Scotland di...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
SNP
Is Jackie Baillie arguing that a higher percentage should be given to mental health and that a lower percentage—therefore, a cut—should be given to other hea...
Jackie Baillie
Lab
There is no need for a cut. If John Mason listens to his finance secretary, he will hear that there is now a lot more money than ever going into health. It i...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Bruce Crawford will speak on behalf of the Finance and Constitution Committee. 15:21
Bruce Crawford (Stirling) (SNP)
SNP
When I agreed to take on the role of convener of the Finance and Constitution Committee—unbelievably, almost five years ago—I could never have imagined how m...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
If that is Bruce Crawford’s final speech, he will be a huge loss to the Parliament. He has made an immense contribution to political life in Scotland. Applau...
Jackie Baillie
Lab
I invite Willie Rennie to say whether he would support a pay rise for social care workers.
Willie Rennie
LD
Jackie Baillie has obviously read my speech. I will address that in a second. On education, we want more bounce-back funds for pupils to help them to recove...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
I assumed that we would hear from Bruce Crawford in the stage 3 debate on the budget but, if that was his last contribution as the convener of the Finance an...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
We move to the open debate. 15:36
Tom Arthur (Renfrewshire South) (SNP)
SNP
I am conscious that, as the first back bencher to make a contribution to the debate, this comment might be premature. However, this has been the most encoura...
Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests, which notes that I am a partner in a farming business. I recognise that the budget comes...
Kate Forbes
SNP
I am curious that the member has listed a number of schemes that came from the EU. Replacement funds have not been forthcoming from the UK Government, which ...
Jamie Halcro Johnston
Con
The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism made that point, and I made the point back to him that that is a question of choice, given the additional...
Annabelle Ewing (Cowdenbeath) (SNP)
SNP
At the outset of my brief remarks, I commend the finance secretary, Kate Forbes, for her very consensual approach to the setting of this year’s budget. Such ...
Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
The convener of the Finance and Constitution Committee is right: Covid has exposed more than ever the class divisions in our society. The poorest and those i...
Tom Arthur
SNP
Neil Findlay raises some really important points. One of my concerns relates to when we move back into the levels system. Some parts of the country found it ...
Neil Findlay
Lab
I am glad that Mr Arthur has finally come round to that view. I have been arguing all my time in the Parliament that resources have to go to the communities ...
Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the commitments that have been set out in the budget. It has a specific commitment to enterprise, which will be of immense benefit to my constituen...