Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 18 November 2021
18 Nov 2021 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Shared Prosperity Fund and Levelling Up Agenda
Yes, and this is a huge investment in our whole United Kingdom. It is something that we should all welcome. I am glad that the member welcomes it as well.
What is really behind this grievance today is perhaps the fact that, for 14 years in office, the SNP has not acted to level up Scotland and has not invested in our communities. I pay tribute to the many local organisations and groups and the local authorities across Scotland that have worked so hard on the local bids that have been put forward—for many positive projects—to the community renewal fund and the shared prosperity fund. We may have a motion today that is like something from Victor Meldrew in “One Foot in the Grave”, but their hard work and dedication to their communities should not be undermined by what ministers have put forward.
The truth is that the UK Government is working to level up funding across Scotland. That should be welcomed. It should be something that we all support.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-02158, in the name of Richard Lochhead, on the United Kingdom shared prosperity fund and the UK Governmen...
The Minister for Social Security and Local Government (Ben Macpherson)
SNP
This debate is an important opportunity for the Parliament to discuss the future replacement of European Union funding and to consider, with concern, the way...
Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con)
Con
The problem that the minister has is that if the UK Government’s shared prosperity fund is so flawed, why are Scottish National Party council leaders across ...
Ben Macpherson
SNP
I go back to my point on principles, and I will say more on that in due course. Although additional funding for Scotland will be embraced by regional partner...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
Will the minister give way?
Ben Macpherson
SNP
I will give way to Mr Johnson, but then I will have to make some progress.
Daniel Johnson
Lab
The minister is right that this is about principles and fairness, but would he not be better arguing that £173 million is inconsequential in terms of tacklin...
Ben Macpherson
SNP
Mr Johnson makes that point in good faith but I want to see the Labour Party as the party that was, to its credit, behind the conception of the Scottish Parl...
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the minister give way on that point?
Ben Macpherson
SNP
I will take one last intervention.
Stephen Kerr
Con
It is clear that the minister’s sentiment is not shared by Cecil Meiklejohn, who is the leader of Falkirk Council. She welcomed the funding from the UK Gover...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I think that you have made your point, Mr Kerr.
Stephen Kerr
Con
The point is that the SNP councils on the ground that are involved with the UK Government are supportive of that additional money.
Ben Macpherson
SNP
I touched on that issue in response to Mr Briggs. It is clear that the Scottish Conservatives do not want to stand up for the powers of the Scottish Parliame...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I advise members that time is very tight. I have to ask that interventions be accommodated in the time for members’ speeches. 15:23
Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con)
Con
I start by sending my best wishes to Richard Lochhead for a speedy recovery. I am sorry that the minister has had to come to the chamber with this week’s la...
Dr Alasdair Allan (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)
SNP
I hope that the member will acknowledge at some point that these moneys are not acts of charity but are actually Scottish taxpayers’ moneys.
Miles Briggs
Con
Yes, and this is a huge investment in our whole United Kingdom. It is something that we should all welcome. I am glad that the member welcomes it as well. W...
Daniel Johnson
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Miles Briggs
Con
I will not have time, unless the Presiding Officer has any time in hand.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I do not.
Miles Briggs
Con
It is therefore welcome that SNP council leaders across the country have warmly welcomed the funding. In that spirit, I congratulate them on the positive wor...
Ben Macpherson
SNP
Will Mr Briggs take an intervention on that point?
Miles Briggs
Con
I do not have time. Sorry. From what we see in the motion today, the answer is simply nothing. For 14 years, the SNP Government has taken powers off local a...
Ben Macpherson
SNP
Will Mr Briggs acknowledge the unfortunate irony of the Conservatives talking about levelling up when they have presided over a decade of austerity policy, m...
Miles Briggs
Con
The only thing that the minister failed to say was that we have also presided over the highest budget that this Parliament and the Scottish Government have e...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Time is tight. I can give a little bit of time back for interventions, so I do not encourage members to think that they cannot take an intervention. However,...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
I move the amendment in my name. There is a danger that the debate is set to focus on constitutional wrangling rather than the needs of our constituents. I ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Thank you, Ms Grant. I do not think that you moved the amendment.
Rhoda Grant
Lab
I did so at the start of my speech, but I am happy to move it again.