Meeting of the Parliament 16 September 2015
I am sorry, but I am short of time.
The Scottish Government claims that that important issue might lead to the rejection of powers. The public must be aware of the negotiations as they proceed and be able to make a judgment. Otherwise, we risk finding ourselves in the scenario that Professor Jim Gallagher warns against, where the fiscal framework becomes a private agreement between the two Governments.
As the Deputy First Minister will be aware, my colleague Ian Murray has written to ask that the papers that are published reflect, among other things, the adjustment of the Scottish Government’s block grant in relation to the new tax and spending powers, and set out the discussions around fiscal scrutiny and the current role of the Scottish Fiscal Commission. I hope that, in his closing remarks, the cabinet secretary will take the opportunity to confirm that he will seek to publish details of the meetings through the Finance Committee, as has been the procedure previously. Decisions of such importance to the people of Scotland should not be made behind closed doors.
I suspect that, if we were to ask a family at a food bank what their major concern was, it would not be the constitution. If we were to ask a patient who was waiting in an accident and emergency department for treatment or a bed what his major concern was, it would not be the constitution. If we were to ask a single parent who is struggling to find a place at college but cannot afford the childcare anyway what her major concern is, it would not be the constitution. Looking to the future, we have the opportunity to use the engagement that the referendum brought to the people of Scotland to deliver change in how we do politics not just in Scotland but throughout the United Kingdom.
The Labour Party has listened to voters and to our members and we have a bold, fresh and exciting new leadership that will be pursuing a radical new agenda for Scotland and the UK. Excitement in Scottish politics should not constitute itself just around the constitution. It should be about changing communities, embracing opportunities and changing futures. That is why the devolution settlement that we pursue and achieve will not stop at Holyrood.
I move amendment S4M-14252.2, to insert at end:
“, and believes that devolution should not stop at the Scottish Parliament but go on to create more effective delivery of public services, for example through the devolution of the work programme to local communities and empowering people in greater local decision-making”.
15:06Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.