Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 11 December 2024
11 Dec 2024 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Budget 2025-26
In a moment.
Scotland’s economy is one of the best performing of any part of the UK. One of the most important factors in realising that has been the attracting of foreign direct investment. In fact, a record number—[Interruption.] I know that the Tories do not like to hear good news about the Scottish economy, but I am going to tell them it anyway. A record number of foreign direct investment projects were secured in Scotland in 2023, maintaining Scotland’s position as the top-performing area of the UK outside London for the ninth year running, and the Scottish Fiscal Commission has forecast that Scotland will have higher earnings growth and lower unemployment than the rest of the UK in 2025-26. I hope that Craig Hoy can welcome that.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-15792, in the name of Craig Hoy, on delivering a commonsense budget for Scotland. I invite members who wi...
Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
Last week’s budget continues on a path that has been well trodden by the Scottish National Party—more tax, more excuses, poorer public services and an abunda...
Michelle Thomson (Falkirk East) (SNP)
SNP
Mr Hoy is, along with me, on the Finance and Public Administration Committee. When the Scottish Fiscal Commission was in front of us yesterday, I specificall...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Always speak through the chair.
Craig Hoy
Con
We are getting the cheap insults in early. What I heard yesterday was the Scottish Fiscal Commission issuing to the Scottish Government a series of warnings ...
The Minister for Public Finance (Ivan McKee)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Craig Hoy
Con
I will make some progress, then give way shortly. That policy would mean more money for young families who are getting their homes together and less for the...
Ivan McKee
SNP
Does Mr Hoy recognise that there are significantly more teachers, doctors, nurses, midwives and police officers per head of population in Scotland than there...
Craig Hoy
Con
The minister needs to learn a lesson. Yesterday, we found out that there are fewer teachers and doctors, but I know that, under the SNP, there are more spin ...
Stuart McMillan (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Craig Hoy
Con
No. I do not have time. In the budget, there is up to £50 million for a national care service that even SNP councils no longer support, and there is £8 mill...
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government (Shona Robison)
SNP
I welcome any opportunity to talk about the draft budget, but there is one particular aspect of the Conservative motion that I think it is incumbent on us al...
Craig Hoy
Con
Will the minister give way?
Shona Robison
SNP
In a moment. Scotland’s economy is one of the best performing of any part of the UK. One of the most important factors in realising that has been the attrac...
Craig Hoy
Con
For the record, can the cabinet secretary state how much she is receiving from the UK Government to extend rates relief to the Scottish retail, leisure and h...
Shona Robison
SNP
The consequentials are about £145 million. We have to be very careful in what we allocate this year, because there will be no consequentials next year from t...
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
LD
The cabinet secretary mentions the relief in the hospitality sector that has been felt as a result of the rates relief that was announced in the draft budget...
Shona Robison
SNP
We think that the position that we have put forward is balanced and affordable and focuses on hospitality. We will continue to have discussions on that, but ...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
The cabinet secretary needs to work a bit harder on her pre-scripted gags, given the response from the chamber. On the issue of welfare spending, surely we ...
Shona Robison
SNP
And that is why we are investing in employability. Interruption.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Cabinet secretary, please resume your seat for a second. I say to members that I have allowed a little bit of leeway in terms of reaction to what is being sa...
Shona Robison
SNP
It is strange that the Tories talk about unsustainability only when it comes to welfare funding and do not talk about unsustainable tax cuts that would take ...
Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I begin with full-throated agreement with the cabinet secretary on the appalling motion that has been lodged today by the Conservatives. Frankly, it is benea...
Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Michael Marra
Lab
No, I will not. Asylum seekers are not political pawns to be used by the Tory party to try to outflank Reform on the right. The motion has been condemned by...
Murdo Fraser
Con
Is Mr Marra not a little bit embarrassed that he represents a party that has slashed the winter fuel allowance for the most vulnerable group of people in our...
Michael Marra
Lab
There is certainly a debate—it is one that we have regularly in this chamber—about the winter fuel payment, and there are also debates about how many parts ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Speak through the chair.
Michael Marra
Lab
There are flaws in our tax system. As experts have told the Finance and Public Administration Committee, the Scottish system is unduly complex and economical...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind)
Ind
Would the member give way?