Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 12 February 2026 [Draft]
12 Feb 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill: Stage 1
I do not know who has rattled Mr Swinney’s cage, but it is certainly rattled.
The only person the budget appears to add up for is Shona Robison, because she initially thought that it provided her with nearly enough coverage to get out the door in May, but analysts have warned that that will not hold. Whoever replaces her will, almost inevitably, be forced back to the Parliament with an emergency statement to fix the mistakes that she has made. [Interruption.]
Let us look at some of the detail in Shona Robison’s plans. The Government insists that it is properly funding our NHS, but do not take my word for it. David Phillips from the Institute for Fiscal Studies says that funding allocations for health in 2026-27 look—and I quote, Mr Swinney—“increasingly detached from reality.” Excluding social care pay, health and social care funding is up by only 1.6 per cent in cash terms, but down by 0.6 per cent in real terms. Agenda for change staff are due a pay increase of 3.75 per cent and resident doctors have been awarded 9.4 per cent. Something serious will have to give at the front line of our NHS.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-20720, in the name of Shona Robison, on the Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill at stage 1. I invite members wh...
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government (Shona Robison)
SNP
I am very pleased to open this stage 1 debate on the Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill. The budget invests £68 billion in Scotland’s families; in the essential s...
Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the cabinet secretary give way?
Shona Robison
SNP
I will give way to Craig Hoy, who, of course, has not managed to secure anything through the budget process. I am sure that he will be full of suggestions.
Craig Hoy
Con
I would not want our party’s name associated with anything in this budget because, at the end of the day, this Scottish Government—Interruption.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
Members!
Craig Hoy
Con
This Scottish Government has just said that it has engaged positively with stakeholders. What does she say to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, w...
Shona Robison
SNP
I had an excellent meeting with COSLA group leaders yesterday, including the Conservative group leader, and I have had lots of messages today welcoming the m...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind)
Ind
: Some would say that we are short of money for social work, care and other things while some hospitality businesses are very profitable. They are expanding,...
Shona Robison
SNP
I take John Mason’s point, but we also have to ensure that our hospitality sector, which is the life-blood of many towns and villages across Scotland, can co...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
I welcome the measures that have been set out. In my constituency, some businesses were going to have their profits wiped out altogether, so I hope that the ...
Shona Robison
SNP
Revaluation is an independent process, as agreed by the Parliament. There are always winners and losers in such processes, but I am sure that there will be r...
Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP)
SNP
I am pleased to speak on behalf of the Finance and Public Administration Committee, following publication of our “Report on the Scottish Budget 2026-27”, and...
Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
This budget does not add up. It does not add up for Scottish taxpayers, with more people dragged into ever-higher tax under the Scottish National Party. It d...
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic (Kate Forbes)
SNP
Does Craig Hoy accept that the one thing that this budget does do is add up, because it has to be balanced? Where would he find £1 billion?
Craig Hoy
Con
The Scottish Government is under a legal obligation to make sure that this budget balances, but—Interruption.—before Mr Swinney has a breakdown, I will say t...
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care (Neil Gray)
SNP
Will the member give way?
Craig Hoy
Con
I will not give way.
The First Minister (John Swinney)
SNP
Where would it come from?
Craig Hoy
Con
The only place where this—
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
First Minister, please let Mr Hoy continue.
Craig Hoy
Con
If Mr Swinney wants to know where the £1 billion will come from, it will come from cutting the SNP’s bloated benefits bill.Members: Oh!
Craig Hoy
Con
It would come from getting rid of the pork barrel politics, where John Swinney is buying votes—
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
Mr Hoy, could you please resume your seat for a second. I say to members that I think that we would expect better behaviour all round. We should listen to Mr...
Craig Hoy
Con
I do not know who has rattled Mr Swinney’s cage, but it is certainly rattled.The only person the budget appears to add up for is Shona Robison, because she i...
Neil Gray
SNP
Will the member give way?
Craig Hoy
Con
No, I do not have time.The cabinet secretary has repeatedly claimed that the budget offers a fair deal for Scotland’s councils, but COSLA begs to differ. It ...
Neil Gray
SNP
Will the member give way?
Craig Hoy
Con
I do not have time.The sad fact is that this dismal budget will pass in the Parliament because Scottish Labour is too weak, too divided, and too distracted t...
Willie Rennie
LD
Will the member give way?