Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick) NPA

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-02336, in the name of Derek Mackay, on the draft Local Government Finance (Scotland) Amendment Order 2012...

The Minister for Local Government and Planning (Derek Mackay) SNP

On 9 February, Parliament approved the Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2012, which enables Scotland’s local authorities to set their revenue budget...

James Kelly (Rutherglen) (Lab) Lab

I note that one of the commitments was about police officer numbers. Does the minister accept that although that commitment might have been delivered, as we ...

Derek Mackay SNP

The budget that the Scottish Government has delivered includes money for diversionary measures in our communities, enhanced community safety, a more efficien...

James Kelly (Rutherglen) (Lab) Lab

Let me make it clear from the outset that the Labour Party will support the amendment order at 5 o’clock. We have to accept that council leaders have been pu...

Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) SNP

Will the member give way?

James Kelly Lab

Not for the moment.

Kevin Stewart SNP

I did not think that he would.

James Kelly Lab

I would be happy to take an intervention once I have developed my argument.I want to explain a few home truths about the settlement and the SNP’s attitude to...

Kevin Stewart SNP

Will the member give way?

James Kelly Lab

Not for the moment.The £70 million has not increased in the five years since the SNP came to power, so inflation has not been taken into account. Moreover, a...

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee City West) (SNP) SNP

Will the member give way?

James Kelly Lab

Let me finish this point. On the agreement on police officer numbers, the SNP is playing a numbers game in which, while the numbers are being maintained, the...

Joe FitzPatrick SNP

I am very pleased that crime is at a 35-year low and that the streets of Dundee are the safest that they have been in decades.Mr Kelly referred to strings be...

James Kelly Lab

In relation to the impact on front-line services, 89 per cent of the cuts in the current budget have been passed to local government: £658 million of the tot...

Kevin Stewart SNP

Will Mr Kelly give way?

James Kelly Lab

Let me finish my point.That point was reinforced only this morning in a report by the Accounts Commission, which drew attention to the fact that, based on th...

The Presiding Officer NPA

Mr Kelly, I cannot give you additional time for taking interventions.

Kevin Stewart SNP

I thank Mr Kelly for giving away—rather, giving way and giving away nothing, come to think of it.Why have Labour leaders of councils across the country accep...

James Kelly Lab

Mr Stewart must look at the practical effects of the SNP budget on the ground. We saw in statistics that were published only yesterday that there have been 6...

Joe FitzPatrick SNP

Will the member give way?

James Kelly Lab

I have already given way to Mr FitzPatrick.The reality of the budget cuts is that bus services are being cut and pensioners are not able to get out and reach...

The Presiding Officer NPA

Can we settle down, please?

James Kelly Lab

They are getting a bit excited, Presiding Officer.We are moving towards the local elections campaign and the single-issue campaigners on the SNP benches will...

The Presiding Officer NPA

You need to wind up, Mr Kelly.

James Kelly Lab

We look forward to the elections and to building hope and defending jobs and services.16:43

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con) Con

The Local Government Finance (Scotland) Amendment Order 2012 acts as an amending instrument to the Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2012, which was ...

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee City West) (SNP) SNP

The settlement is good news for Scotland’s local authorities. It completes the funding for the delivery of vital services that the people of Scotland deserve...

James Kelly Lab

Does Mr FitzPatrick accept that his Government has doubled the cut from Westminster in the cut that it has passed on to local councils? I repeat that there a...

Joe FitzPatrick SNP

No, I do not accept that—Mr Kelly is wrong. Just about every member of the Parliament agrees that health spending should be protected, although there is deba...