Chamber
Plenary, 07 Dec 2000
07 Dec 2000 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Local Government Settlement
Oh, dear—that is even more astonishing. I get a bit concerned when councillors ask questions about what the settlement will mean for specific local government spending decisions. When I was a councillor, I spent much of my time arguing that central Government should not interfere in such decisions or in pay negotiations between the trade unions and employers. We cannot say that we want to increase autonomy, abolish guidelines and give flexibility on council tax and then add, "By the way, we also want to tell you how to spend your money." Each authority will have to consider how it spends its real-terms increase in funding and what it does with its new-found autonomy and flexibility with the council tax. I am sure that local electors as well as MSPs will be interested in how local authorities readjust to the challenges of investing real-terms increases instead of making cuts, which is something that became quite familiar under the Conservatives.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Sir David Steel):
NPA
The first item of business is a statement by Angus MacKay on the local government settlement.
Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
On a point of order. This morning I contacted my colleague Kenny Gibson, asking to see a copy of the minister's statement, which he had in his possession at ...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
The answer is no, I cannot do anything about that because it is not a point of order for me. I am informed that, as a matter of courtesy, the Executive gives...
The Minister for Finance and Local Government (Angus MacKay):
Lab
With Fergus Ewing's consent, I will steer clear of freedom of information this morning and stick to the local government settlement. Since devolution, the La...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
That was inevitably a long and detailed statement, so I will allow questions to run on until about 10.15.
Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP):
SNP
I thank the minister for providing me with a copy of his statement an hour ago. I have guarded it with my life.I came here this morning hoping to hear from S...
Angus MacKay:
Lab
That was a satisfyingly muted series of questions from Kenny Gibson, which tells me that the announcements that we made today are a substantial change on pre...
Mr Gibson:
SNP
You were.
Angus MacKay:
Lab
No. I have never been a Unison-sponsored MSP. Kenny Gibson has a spade; he should keep digging.Kenny Gibson raised several important points about the settlem...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
I now call Keith Harding. It would be helpful if you pressed the button.
Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
It is pressed.
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
It is normal to press the button if you want to be called, but I knew that you wished to speak.
Mr Harding:
Con
I had pressed the button.
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
No, you had not. On you go now.
Mr Harding:
Con
Thank you, Presiding Officer.I thank Mr MacKay for giving me the statement an hour ago. I spent the hour reading it, not writing a speech.Everyone agrees tha...
Angus MacKay:
Lab
I am left almost speechless by Keith Harding's contribution. It is so far removed from reality that it would have given me some concern if I had not heard so...
Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con) rose—
Con
Angus MacKay:
Lab
I am not sure that I am allowed to take an intervention.
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
No.
Angus MacKay:
Lab
We have adopted a formula that has a good distribution for every council in Scotland. For members to be crying "Bah, humbug", especially at this time of the ...
Mr Harding:
Con
May I ask another question?
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
All right, I will let you in again. Your question was very short. Members: "Oh, come on." His question was very short.
Mr Harding:
Con
Is the minister saying that, as a result of the budget settlement, there will be no cuts in essential services in councils throughout Scotland?
Angus MacKay:
Lab
I get a bit concerned when former councillors come at the debate in those terms.
Mr Harding:
Con
I am still a councillor.
Angus MacKay:
Lab
Oh, dear—that is even more astonishing. I get a bit concerned when councillors ask questions about what the settlement will mean for specific local governmen...
Iain Smith (North-East Fife) (LD):
LD
As someone who was a councillor in Fife for 17 years before being elected to the Scottish Parliament—
Mr Gibson:
SNP
Is the member that old?
Iain Smith:
LD
I am.
Mr Gibson:
SNP
And I thought that he was a sweet young thing.