Hansard

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con Chamber

25 Mar 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Older People’s Housing

Housing for older people is a key priority that is driven by an ageing population. Does the Scottish Government recognise that prioritising the right type of housing can improve quality of life and reduce the need for public services, particularly in health and social care?

Alexander Stewart Con Chamber

25 Mar 2026

General Question Time · Forth Valley College (Funding)

It is vital that the public is aware of the full picture, because, unless the Scottish Government can give concrete reassurances about the long-term future of the Alloa campus to its students and employees, it will be right back to square 1. Can the minister give any assurance...

7. Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con Chamber

25 Mar 2026

General Question Time · Forth Valley College (Funding)

To ask the Scottish Government what its commitment is to a sustainable funding package for Forth Valley College to ensure its long-term future. (S6O-05691)

Alexander Stewart Con Committee

24 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

The sector has expressed the difficulties that it has to deal with compared with other sectors. It used the example of water rates, which have a massive impact on such businesses.You identified that the cost of living crisis is an issue, but the sector faces a number of increa...

Alexander Stewart Con Committee

24 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

Minister, we are aware that the sector made some very strong representations to you when the budget was announced in January. It rang alarm bells and said that it had major concerns about the impact on the sector.You have taken on board some of that, as we have already discuss...

Alexander Stewart Con Committee

24 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

Thank you.

Alexander Stewart Con Committee

24 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

Garry, do you want to add anything?

Alexander Stewart Con Committee

24 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

That takes us back to the question of the priorities for your sectors and industries.You have indicated what is required, and you have been given relief, but it is only some relief at this stage. The sectors are still in a difficult place. To plan for the future, you need the ...

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con Committee

24 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

I do.In January, when the Scottish Government set the budget, your organisations—or trade bodies—set huge alarm bells ringing about the impact on the sector. I credit you for doing that. However, to what extent do the regulations that we are looking at actually manage to deal ...

Alexander Stewart Con Committee

24 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

The sector has expressed the difficulties that it has to deal with compared with other sectors. It used the example of water rates, which have a massive impact on such businesses.You identified that the cost of living crisis is an issue, but the sector faces a number of increa...

Alexander Stewart Con Committee

24 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

Minister, we are aware that the sector made some very strong representations to you when the budget was announced in January. It rang alarm bells and said that it had major concerns about the impact on the sector.You have taken on board some of that, as we have already discuss...

Alexander Stewart Con Committee

24 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

Thank you.

Alexander Stewart Con Committee

24 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

Garry, do you want to add anything?

Alexander Stewart Con Committee

24 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

That takes us back to the question of the priorities for your sectors and industries.You have indicated what is required, and you have been given relief, but it is only some relief at this stage. The sectors are still in a difficult place. To plan for the future, you need the ...

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con Committee

24 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

I do.In January, when the Scottish Government set the budget, your organisations—or trade bodies—set huge alarm bells ringing about the impact on the sector. I credit you for doing that. However, to what extent do the regulations that we are looking at actually manage to deal ...

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con Chamber

19 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time

Suicide in young people has reached a crisis point. The breaking the silence suicide prevention project that has been piloted in schools in my region is a step in the right direction. What is the Scottish Government doing to ensure that the project’s training, which literally ...

Alexander Stewart Con Chamber

18 Mar 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Real Living Wage

Nobody on the Conservative benches opposes fair pay for workers, but the minister must recognise that the gap between the number of accredited employers and the number of workers who actually receive the real living wage tells us a story. Businesses in Scotland are closing, re...

7. Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con Chamber

18 Mar 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Real Living Wage

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason, despite an increase in the number of businesses pledging to pay the real living wage, the percentage of people actually being paid the real living wage or more has been decreasing for three consecutive years. (S6O-05654)

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con Committee

17 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

I support Meghan Gallacher’s comments. At the end of this session of Parliament, there is an opportunity for us to tidy up the issue, if we need to. We have that option, so I support that suggestion.

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con Chamber

12 Mar 2026

Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan

I thank the cabinet secretary for early sight of the statement. The Scottish National Party talks a good game on child poverty, but it has failed to back up those words with actions; it has failed to close the attainment gap, one in five children lives in poverty, and it has f...

Alexander Stewart Con Committee

12 Mar 2026

Adult Disability Payment

Thank you.Sorry about that earlier, convener.

Alexander Stewart Con Committee

12 Mar 2026

Adult Disability Payment

I am sorry—that was my fault; I did not realise that.The 50 per cent rule, which has been mentioned, has caused everyone who is involved in the process some disquiet. Frank McKillop, what do you think of the process in that regard? The Government has not tackled or examined th...

Alexander Stewart Con Committee

12 Mar 2026

Adult Disability Payment

My next question is on—

Alexander Stewart Con Committee

12 Mar 2026

Adult Disability Payment

Would Erica Young like to add anything?

Alexander Stewart Con Committee

12 Mar 2026

Adult Disability Payment

Does Enable take the same position? Do you believe that service users are not going to progress to the level of being seen to have what is required?

Alexander Stewart Con Committee

12 Mar 2026

Adult Disability Payment

Good morning. It is apparent that organisations and charities such as yours are very disappointed that the Scottish Government has not addressed many of the substantive system changes and recommendations that the review proposed. It would be good to get a view from you on that...

Alexander Stewart Con Committee

12 Mar 2026

Armed Forces Bill

Thank you.09:15

Alexander Stewart Con Committee

12 Mar 2026

Armed Forces Bill

Yes.

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con Committee

12 Mar 2026

Armed Forces Bill

Good morning, minister. Like many, I welcome the progress that is being made here, and I acknowledge that the bill will focus minds, something that will be vital in this process. Under the legislation, local authorities and health boards will have to have due regard to what ha...

Alexander Stewart Con Chamber

11 Mar 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Culture and the Arts Promotion(Local Authorities)

Creative Scotland’s chief executive has warned that he is increasingly concerned about the risk to arts funding due to pressures on local authority budgets. Culture is vital to communities across Scotland, yet councils are being forced to cut arts funding. In the Western Isles...

4. Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con Chamber

11 Mar 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Culture and the Arts Promotion(Local Authorities)

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting local authorities to promote culture and the arts. (S6O-05614)

Alexander Stewart Con Committee

10 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

You identified that, in managing the situation, the goal and objective that you want to achieve is to ensure that the individuals who have to live in such conditions are supported and managed. It is not something that they have control over—it is the landlord who has control o...

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con Committee

10 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

Good morning, cabinet secretary. You have already given some assurances about your intentions for the regulations. There is no doubt that it could be much more complicated and complex for those who live in rural settings to meet those requirements. It would be good to get a fl...

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con Chamber

05 Mar 2026

Disabled People’s Representation in Scottish Democracy

I am pleased to speak in this afternoon’s debate, and I thank Jeremy Balfour for bringing the issue to the chamber.The motion for today’s debate speaks to the simple but important principle that lived experience can strengthen our democracy. Although statistics and political t...

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con Chamber

03 Mar 2026

European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill

I am pleased to open on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives. The amended European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill represents a step in the right direction for Scottish local government. The aim of the European Charter of Local Self-Government ...

Alexander Stewart Con Chamber

03 Mar 2026

European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Reconsideration Stage

The group addresses the position of the Supreme Court that the bill is outwith competence. The interpretation duty and the powers that make declarations of incompatibility are now restricted to Scottish Parliament legislation only, and the remittal powers are similarly narrowe...

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con Chamber

03 Mar 2026

European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Reconsideration Stage

Group 1 deals with the compatibility duty. We voted for the bill back in March 2021, and we will support the cabinet secretary’s amendments in this group, which will narrow the compatibility duty in section 2 so that it applies only to functions conferred by Scottish Parliamen...

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con Chamber

25 Feb 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Local Authority Funding Settlements

The cabinet secretary has stated that the settlement is fair and sustainable, but Clackmannanshire Council, which is in my region, projects a budget gap of £7.34 million for 2026-27. As councils across Scotland are forced to consider double-digit council tax rises for a second...

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con Chamber

25 Feb 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Mossmorran (Workforce Support)

Ministers indicate that they are supporting the Mossmorran workforce. I welcome the pledge of £9 million over three years and the job search that has been announced.Of the £9 million, £3 million is being made available immediately. Will the Deputy First Minister publish a brea...

Alexander Stewart Con Committee

24 Feb 2026

Subordinate Legislation

:As you will be aware, minister, the committee heard—and you have heard, too—from some tourism representatives who made the case that a per-night, per-person levy would be “unworkable”. If a local authority decides to introduce such a scheme, how many reviews and appeals does ...

Alexander Stewart Con Committee

24 Feb 2026

Subordinate Legislation

:Thank you.

Alexander Stewart Con Committee

24 Feb 2026

Subordinate Legislation

:Cabinet secretary, you have outlined the process and procedures that will take place, but how will the impact of the exemptions on tenants be kept under review? Knowing how this process is to be managed and captured through review is also quite important.

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con Committee

24 Feb 2026

Subordinate Legislation

Given that the powers are due to come into effect on 1 April, when does the Scottish Government anticipate publishing the guidance on them?

Alexander Stewart Con Committee

19 Feb 2026

Funeral Support Payment

You have already covered some aspects of this, but it would be good to get a flavour of what improvements are needed to the administration of funeral support payment. You have all mentioned the difficulties and complexities in that regard and you will all have had experiences,...

Alexander Stewart Con Committee

19 Feb 2026

Funeral Support Payment

That also puts the family in a difficult position because they are relying on what might happen, as are you, but you will be the one who is worse off financially.

Alexander Stewart Con Committee

19 Feb 2026

Funeral Support Payment

Roughly, how many people fall into that category, whereby the funeral director does the funeral but, at the end of the day, the person does not have the financial resources to pay for it and the funeral director has to take that hit? Does that happen regularly or only on an ad...

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con Committee

19 Feb 2026

Subordinate Legislation

Good morning. When considering medium-term financial planning, how does the Scottish Government take account of the possibility that inflation might differ from the forecasts and of the impact that that might have on social security spending?

Alexander Stewart Con Chamber

18 Feb 2026

Mossmorran (Just Transition Fund)

As it stands, this is not a just transition—it is a cliff edge. What we have heard from the Greens this afternoon is predictable. Last year’s announcement that Mossmorran was to close was an important reminder of how bad Government policy can change the lives of communities ac...

Alexander Stewart Con Chamber

18 Feb 2026

Mossmorran (Just Transition Fund)

I was there, supporting the community. You are well aware of that, Mr Ruskell, because I was there many times, at many of those meetings—

Alexander Stewart Con Chamber

18 Feb 2026

Mossmorran (Just Transition Fund)

I can assure the member that, in the 10 years that I have been in this job in this building, I have attended many events at Mossmorran—

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con Chamber

18 Feb 2026

Mossmorran (Just Transition Fund)

I am pleased to open the debate on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives. It is a welcome opportunity to highlight the on-going crisis at Mossmorran, which will impact not only the area but the wider Fife economy and Scotland as a whole.The closure of Mossmorran will mean the l...

Alexander Stewart Con Chamber

18 Feb 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Automatic Early Release (Offenders Convicted of Serious Violent Offences)

During last year’s emergency early release scheme, the governor’s veto was the key safety valve, and it was used to prevent 171 prisoners who had been assessed as posing an immediate risk of harm from being released into the community. Now the Government wants to hardwire a 30...

2. Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con Chamber

18 Feb 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Automatic Early Release (Offenders Convicted of Serious Violent Offences)

To ask the Scottish Government whether offenders convicted of serious violent offences could be eligible for release after serving around 30 per cent of their custodial sentence under the proposed changes to automatic release points. (S6O-05524)

Alexander Stewart Con Committee

17 Feb 2026

Subordinate Legislation

Thank you.

Alexander Stewart Con Committee

17 Feb 2026

Subordinate Legislation

My next question is about the enforcement of the proposed regulations. It is important that we get that right. At the moment, local authorities are being earmarked for that role. Are they the suitable bodies to deal with enforcement? It would be good to get your views on that....

Alexander Stewart Con Committee

17 Feb 2026

Subordinate Legislation

We have heard that regulations can have an impact on the sector, which could be positive or negative. We are asking about how that impact happens. The proposed regulations might well have a negative impact. The sector, which is a supplier of housing, has been talking about tha...

Alexander Stewart Con Committee

17 Feb 2026

Subordinate Legislation

Does anyone else want to add anything?

Alexander Stewart Con Committee

17 Feb 2026

Subordinate Legislation

Enforcement will also be an issue in the regulatory process, and it is local authorities that will be given that task. It would be interesting to know whether you think that that is the right place to put that task. Do local authorities have sufficient resources to do that eff...

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con Committee

17 Feb 2026

Subordinate Legislation

I thank the witnesses for their comments so far. Regulations always have an impact, and it has been obvious from your evidence that the regulations have a potential negative impact on the housing supply. As you have already indicated, landlords have left the sector and more mi...

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con Chamber

04 Feb 2026

European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill

I am pleased to speak on the motion to allow the Parliament to reconsider the European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill.As the closest level of government to communities, it is right that councils, and elected councillors, are given the powers t...