Meeting of the Parliament 24 October 2023
I thank all members who have spoken in the debate, albeit that it has been a short one. There have been some thoughtful contributions, which I will try to cover.
Douglas Lumsden said that we should be investing more, not less. I say to him that I do not see how his position can be reconciled with the UK Government’s cut of nearly 7 per cent to the capital budget. That delivers not more but less across the length and breadth of Scotland.
I am pleased that we have been able to improve parts of the bill. The concerns raised regarding part 1 do not detract from the progress that has been made on parts 3 and 6. The amendments that we have negotiated to part 6 and, by consequence, part 3 now recognise that the consent of the Scottish ministers must be sought before the UK Government makes decisions on devolved matters that will directly impact on Scotland’s environment and the economy.