Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 01 September 2020
01 Sep 2020 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Programme for Government 2020-21
If Ruth Davidson had listened carefully to the first part of my previous answer, she would probably have heard the direction of travel in terms of the date of revaluation. One of the reasons for looking to potentially delay revaluation is the fall-off in business activity and the other factors that businesses have been dealing with.
We do not want, and I do not want, businesses that have already been hit by Covid and the changes that have been necessitated by that to be hit unfairly in addition to that. We will take steps in the way that we consider is best designed to protect businesses from the kind of effect that is being pointed out. It is right and proper for the finance secretary to do that work in detail and to announce it properly to this Parliament, but I think that anybody who is listening to me right now will get a fairly clear hint of the direction of travel.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh)
NPA
The next item of business is a statement by the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, on the Scottish Government’s programme for government 2020-21. The First Min...
The First Minister (Nicola Sturgeon)
SNP
I will start with a brief update on today’s Covid statistics. An additional 154 positive cases were confirmed yesterday. That represents 1.2 per cent of the ...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The First Minister will now take questions on her statement.
Ruth Davidson (Edinburgh Central) (Con)
Con
I thank the First Minister for the advance sight of her statement. She has called the action to protect, support and create jobs our “national mission”, and ...
The First Minister
SNP
I thank Ruth Davidson for her comments. I absolutely understand the importance of small businesses to our economy and, indeed, to our society and our wellbei...
Ruth Davidson
Con
The First Minister asks where the money might come from. I point out that £6.5 billion in Barnett consequentials has been transferred from the UK Government ...
The First Minister
SNP
Yes, that is under consideration. I think that the Cabinet Secretary for Finance will shortly make clear our intentions on the next revaluation date. I under...
Ruth Davidson
Con
I am coming to the First Minister with practical and constructive measures that have been advanced and supported by Scotland’s largest business membership or...
The First Minister
SNP
If Ruth Davidson had listened carefully to the first part of my previous answer, she would probably have heard the direction of travel in terms of the date o...
Ruth Davidson
Con
One of the best and biggest ways to help people back into work is to sort out childcare. I think that it is sadly typical of this Government today that its c...
The First Minister
SNP
Ruth Davidson may be interested to know—or to learn—that there are many local authorities right now that are already delivering 1,140 hours. I saw today, I t...
Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I thank the First Minister for advance sight of her statement. I share her concern that the public health crisis remains a major risk. It is a matter of conc...
The First Minister
SNP
Of course, as Richard Leonard will know, we continue to work hard on an on-going basis to make sure that many of the economic benefits of vast renewables pro...
Richard Leonard
Lab
I am reminded that, back in 2010, in its “Low Carbon Economic Strategy”, the Scottish Government promised 130,000 jobs in renewables and low-carbon technolog...
The First Minister
SNP
That characterisation is completely wrong. We have legislated to reform the private rented sector, delivering and implementing many protections for tenants t...
Richard Leonard
Lab
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The First Minister
SNP
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Alison Johnstone (Lothian) (Green)
Green
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The First Minister
SNP
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Alison Johnstone
Green
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The First Minister
SNP
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Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
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The First Minister
SNP
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Willie Rennie
LD
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The First Minister
SNP
Willie Rennie is just wrong on childcare. We are delivering a commitment on—Interruption. I welcome back Mike Rumbles; I am glad that he has been able briefl...
Angela Constance (Almond Valley) (SNP)
SNP
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The First Minister
SNP
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Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
The First Minister said in her statement that she would publish a new inward investment plan by the end of this year. However, this time last year, she made ...
The First Minister
SNP
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David Torrance (Kirkcaldy) (SNP)
SNP
The First Minister touched on the ways in which the pandemic has affected our treasured health and social care staff, in particular the toll that it will be ...