Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 24 February 2021
24 Feb 2021 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Local Government Funding
For local democracy to be effective, local councils require fairer funding and to be trusted. That should be a statement of the obvious, of course, but it is certainly not a statement that the SNP Government holds to.
We have already seen from this year’s draft budget that local councils will receive an uplift of less than 1 per cent, whereas the SNP Government’s budget has gone up by 9 per cent. Such a funding gap speaks volumes about SNP members’ priorities—they are not the champions of localism that Scotland so desperately needs and that they pretend to be. [Interruption.] No, I will not give way. I have four minutes.
The SNP will again—[Interruption.] I am sorry; if the member wants to make lots of noise from the back benches and interrupt me, that is fine, but they should do it when they are standing up, not when they are sitting down.
The SNP will continue—[Interruption.]
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh)
NPA
Our next item of business is a Conservative Party debate on motion S5M-24206, in the name of Annie Wells, on fair funding for local government. I encourage a...
Annie Wells (Glasgow) (Con)
Con
I am delighted to be given the opportunity to speak in this important debate and in support of the Scottish Conservatives’ motion. Local government across ...
The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government (Aileen Campbell)
SNP
A debate about the future of local government and how the Scottish Government should fund our councils benefits from being set in the wider strategic context...
Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
Does the cabinet secretary accept that Covid has brought with it even greater pressures on local authority services, and that those pressures are continuing ...
Aileen Campbell
SNP
My colleague, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Kate Forbes, engages thoroughly and regularly with local government to take account of the pressures on coun...
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
I draw members’ attention to my entry in the register of members’ interests and my former employment with the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations. I...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
During the pandemic, local communities have come to help people who need support. We have relied on councils to get schools and pupils geared up to learn and...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
For every problem that is complex and difficult, there is a solution that is simple, easy and wrong. That is what the Conservatives have to offer today. The...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
We come to the open debate. I remind members that we are a bit tight on time, so they should keep their remarks to four minutes. 16:31
Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
For local democracy to be effective, local councils require fairer funding and to be trusted. That should be a statement of the obvious, of course, but it is...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Mr Mountain, you may continue. I ask members please to keep order.
Edward Mountain
Con
Thank you, Presiding Officer. The SNP will continue to make headline announcements about increased funding to local councils, but the devil is always in the...
James Dornan (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP)
SNP
It is good to see Annie Wells back at work, and I hope that she is feeling better. It is just a shame that she was landed with this desperate motion on her r...
Elaine Smith (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I have a registered interest related to funding provided by Unison for my member’s bill, the Breastfeeding etc (Scotland) Bill. I am pleased to be speaking ...
Sandra White (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP)
SNP
I thank Annie Wells for bringing the debate to the chamber. Like Patrick Harvie, I believe that the motion on fair funding for local government is very impor...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Ms White, I think that it is time to conclude.
Sandra White
SNP
I will do so, Presiding Officer. I welcome the fact that the Scottish Government is working with COSLA and the local governance review.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
We move to closing speeches. 16:49
Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Fair funding for local government has been something that Scottish Labour has campaigned on throughout the entire term of the Parliament, so we welcome the d...
The Minister for Trade, Innovation and Public Finance (Ivan McKee)
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important debate, which highlights the crucial role that local government plays in supporting our communities...
Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I am delighted to close for the Scottish Conservatives in this afternoon’s debate on fair funding for councils. As someone who spent nearly two decades in l...