Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 23 February 2012
23 Feb 2012 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Economy and Recovery
The Scottish Government has slashed the housing budget at a time when the construction industry is in deep trouble and it has introduced a Scotland-only tax rise called the retail levy to make Scotland less competitive than the rest of the UK. That is why we lodged our amendment and it is why we are very disappointed with the Scottish Government.
I move amendment S4M-02084.1, to leave out from the first “calls on” to end and insert:
“regrets that the Scottish Government did not prioritise the Scottish economy in its recent budget; notes the Scottish Government’s severe cuts to college funding and housing, its failure to take action to boost Scotland’s town centres or provide more help for small businesses and its intention to make Scotland less competitive than the rest of the UK through the introduction of a £95 million retail tax; further notes that the Scottish Government has more money to spend next year than this year in cash terms; notes that, due to Barnett consequentials from the UK Government, Scotland has £500 million more to spend on capital and £70 million more to spend on revenue in the current spending review period; acknowledges that the UK Government has lifted 90,000 people in Scotland out of income tax, cut corporation tax, frozen petrol duty, restored the earnings link to pensions, raised the minimum wage and increased child tax credits, and believes that the UK Government’s commitment to tackling the nation’s debt means that the UK remains a safe haven while much of Europe is engulfed in a debt crisis.”
I move amendment S4M-02084.1, to leave out from the first “calls on” to end and insert:
“regrets that the Scottish Government did not prioritise the Scottish economy in its recent budget; notes the Scottish Government’s severe cuts to college funding and housing, its failure to take action to boost Scotland’s town centres or provide more help for small businesses and its intention to make Scotland less competitive than the rest of the UK through the introduction of a £95 million retail tax; further notes that the Scottish Government has more money to spend next year than this year in cash terms; notes that, due to Barnett consequentials from the UK Government, Scotland has £500 million more to spend on capital and £70 million more to spend on revenue in the current spending review period; acknowledges that the UK Government has lifted 90,000 people in Scotland out of income tax, cut corporation tax, frozen petrol duty, restored the earnings link to pensions, raised the minimum wage and increased child tax credits, and believes that the UK Government’s commitment to tackling the nation’s debt means that the UK remains a safe haven while much of Europe is engulfed in a debt crisis.”
References in this contribution
Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-02084, in the name of John Swinney, on the economy and recovery. I draw it to members’ attention that the...
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth (John Swinney)
SNP
I will set out the action that the Government is taking to ensure that Scotland’s recovery can take its course, despite the current global uncertainties. As ...
Gavin Brown (Lothian) (Con)
Con
The cabinet secretary says that the quarter 3 figure of growth of 0.5 per cent was the same as that for the UK. What about the year-on-year figures in compar...
John Swinney
SNP
No, we did not grow at the same rate as the UK over the year. However, I would have thought that the Conservatives would welcome the point that I made. It is...
Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab)
Lab
Does the cabinet secretary agree that the country enjoys better economic activity and inactivity rates only in a defined age group? In the whole age group ab...
John Swinney
SNP
Across the measure of economic inactivity, it is a pure statistical fact that Scotland performs better than the rest of the United Kingdom does.The outlook r...
Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Will the cabinet secretary therefore now abandon his plans to cut corporation tax?
John Swinney
SNP
The short-term priority for the Government, within the powers that are at our disposal, is to ensure that we obtain the necessary capital investment to boost...
Gavin Brown
Con
Will the cabinet secretary give way?
John Swinney
SNP
Given the time, I had better press on.In order to boost economic confidence in Scotland, we are taking action to combat weakening consumer confidence, suppor...
John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
John Swinney
SNP
I will press on.On building on our recovery, I will set out some actions that the Government intends to take to capture opportunities that will ensure sustai...
Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab)
Lab
Yesterday, we enjoyed that rarity in economic debates: unanimity among the parties across the chamber. That was on our approach to the green investment bank—...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
SNP
Does that not make the point that we need more powers if we are to do something much better than the UK?
Ken Macintosh
Lab
The point is that the motion that is before us calls on us to support the Scottish Government’s “distinctive approach”. What distinctive approach? The SNP is...
John Swinney
SNP
Let me give Mr Macintosh a fact. Since 2007, unemployment has been lower in Scotland than in the rest of the UK in 38 out of the 56 months. In the 96 months ...
Ken Macintosh
Lab
Can I suggest that it demonstrates nothing of the sort and that it answers a different question? The minister’s claim is that his Government is making a dist...
Chic Brodie (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I have read in detail not just the STUC’s report but the Federation of Small Businesses in Scotland’s report. Why does the member not represent a fair view o...
Ken Macintosh
Lab
That is a good question that goes exactly to the point that I am addressing. Of course the scheme is popular: that is why the SNP introduced it. It is popula...
John Swinney
SNP
What are you going to do about it?
Ken Macintosh
Lab
The minister asks what we are going to do about it. Can I suggest that the minister should listen to Labour? Perhaps he is already doing so. For example, I a...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
Can we hear the member’s last 30 seconds, please?
Ken Macintosh
Lab
Following three interventions, Presiding Officer? Well, okay.We should see further interest in wage subsidies and a drive to maintain rather than reduce the ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I reiterate what my colleague John Scott said: the debate is very tight for time, so no time will be given back for interventions.15:18
Gavin Brown (Lothian) (Con)
Con
What did we have today from the Scottish Government? We had the usual cartoonish exaggeration: everything that it has done has helped the economy and spurred...
Gavin Brown
Con
Right on cue. I knew that that was coming. I think that it was even in the script.I take issue with something that the cabinet secretary said when he critici...
John Swinney
SNP
Who is splitting hairs now?
Gavin Brown
Con
If the cabinet secretary wishes to make an intervention, I would welcome it at any point in my speech.
John Swinney
SNP
I will wait until the member makes a point of substance.
Gavin Brown
Con
Mr Swinney had 14 minutes in which to make a point of substance—and he made lots of them, apparently. I will pick him up on some of the other points that he ...