Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh) NPA

Our next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-10397, in the name of Derek Mackay, on the Scottish rate resolution. I invite members who wish to speak i...

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution (Derek Mackay) SNP

Today, the Scottish Parliament votes on setting all rates and bands for Scottish income tax. This is our opportunity to use the powers of the Scottish Parlia...

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

Will the cabinet secretary take this opportunity to apologise to the 898,000 basic-rate taxpayers in Scotland who perhaps believed the Scottish National Part...

Derek Mackay SNP

A majority of basic-rate taxpayers will pay less tax under the Government’s proposition. I am sure that they will welcome that. I do not know why Murdo Frase...

Elaine Smith (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Would it not be fairer and bolder to ask the wealthiest people in Scotland to pay more tax so that the Government can begin to tackle child poverty?

Derek Mackay SNP

That is exactly what the SNP Government is doing. However, in contrast with the Labour Party’s proposals, we will, by doing this in a proper fashion, actuall...

James Kelly (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

Will the cabinet secretary confirm that the Government is able to submit its own forecasts in relation to income tax receipts and therefore can change the am...

Derek Mackay SNP

HM Treasury will release for the Scottish Government to draw down only what the SFC has forecast is the appropriate amount. That is the reality. That is the ...

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

It feels as though we have been debating the Scottish Government’s budget for months, now. Indeed, we have a reprise of this debate coming up tomorrow, with ...

John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP) SNP

Will the member give way?

Murdo Fraser Con

Yes, of course. I am sure that Mr Mason will associate himself with that manifesto commitment.

John Mason SNP

I do associate myself with the manifesto commitment. Does Murdo Fraser accept that a manifesto can be fully implemented only if there is a majority Governmen...

Murdo Fraser Con

The Conservatives stood ready to vote with a Government that was prepared to meet its manifesto commitment to keep taxes low, but Mr Mackay spurned my advanc...

Ivan McKee (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Murdo Fraser Con

Not at the moment. The overall burden of income tax will be higher in Scotland than it is in other parts of the UK. The SNP seems to want to portray its ta...

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green) Green

Will Murdo Fraser finally drop the pretence that increasing the personal allowance is a progressive move? It has been demonstrated time and again that the bu...

Murdo Fraser Con

Mr Harvie is simply wrong on that. The millions who have benefited from their incomes having been taken out of tax altogether will disagree with him, because...

Ivan McKee SNP

Will Murdo Fraser give way?

Murdo Fraser Con

Not just now. A nurse who earns £30,000 a year will pay £40 more. A primary school teacher, social worker or paramedic who earns £35,000 will pay £90 more. ...

Derek Mackay SNP

Does that mean that Murdo Fraser and the Tory party support the pay rise that the Government proposes for the workers that he has just mentioned?

Murdo Fraser Con

Local government workers would like to know whether they will get a pay rise, too, because there is nothing in the Scottish Government’s budget for local gov...

Derek Mackay SNP

As Murdo Fraser knows fine well, all those matters—which we have debated in committee—were raised by the Scottish Government in the early days of the propose...

Murdo Fraser Con

I am sure that that outcome will give great reassurance to the many people who are concerned about such issues—not least the many charities in Scotland that ...

James Kelly (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

The new tax powers were a chance to present a bold and radical budget. The SNP tax plans fall massively short of what is required, and it is the people of Sc...

Derek Mackay SNP

Can I be clear about that? Is James Kelly suggesting that I, as a minister, should interfere with the Scottish Fiscal Commission’s forecast just because I ha...

James Kelly Lab

I am saying very clearly to Mr Mackay that there is an onus on him in the legislation. If he disagrees with that forecast, he can produce his own forecast an...

Bruce Crawford (Stirling) (SNP) SNP

Will the member give way?

James Kelly Lab

Sure.

Bruce Crawford SNP

Let me do something unusual first—let me congratulate the Labour Party. At least the Labour Party made proposals for this Parliament to discuss, unlike the T...

James Kelly Lab

On the tourism tax, the Government had the option of bringing forward emergency legislation, which would have meant investment of £70 million in next year’s ...