Meeting of the Parliament 08 November 2023
It has been a while since we have had one of these discussions at decision time. As always, I try to work constructively with other business bureau managers, and I will continue to do so in the future. Martin Whitfield’s proposed amendment is valid and of merit, and I have no doubt that we will discuss it at future bureau meetings. However, it is my belief that Scotland’s Parliament must discuss Scotland’s future. Mr Whitfield and I might disagree about what that future holds for us, but it is my belief that Scottish independence would provide us with the necessary tools to deal with the issues and the challenges such as that which Mr Whitfield wishes to discuss, which demonstrates the need for the “Building a New Scotland” series of papers.
With regard to parliamentary process, nothing in standing orders prevents us from discussing matters that are beyond the powers of the Parliament. It is not unusual for the Scottish Parliament to debate and vote on motions in areas that are reserved. The proposed debate on “Building a new Scotland: migration to Scotland after independence” is not new or novel in that sense. We have had numerous debates in the Parliament on reserved matters, and they have allowed the Parliament to take a position or to send a message to those who are responsible for such decisions. In fact, nuclear weapons were the subject of a members’ business debate just last week.
On 4 October, the Government lodged a debate on the UK Government’s two-child benefit cap. Members of the Scottish Labour Party and the Scottish Conservative Party took part in that debate without raising any issues about the reserved nature of the topic. Some members of the Labour Party even criticised us for being too narrow when focusing the debate on the two-child benefit cap instead of on the wider issues with the UK Government’s universal credit system.
It is important for us to discuss migration in the Parliament. In April this year, the Scottish Government led a debate on the UK Government’s Illegal Migration Bill and Labour members supported the Government’s motion, albeit with an amendment. They proposed no such opposition to the relevance of that debate. Scotland’s population is projected to begin to fall within the next decade. The opportunity to discuss the role that migration can play in addressing Scotland’s distinct demographic challenges should be welcomed by all elected members.
I turn to Mr Findlay’s points. He made another exciting and riveting presentation. However, at the end of the day, as of 30 September 2023, there were 379 more police officers than in 2007, with Police Scotland recruiting almost 600 officers this year alone and starting around 1,480 new recruits since the beginning of 2022.
Once again, there is a difference between the reality and what Mr Findlay talks about. Scotland has more police officers per capita than England and Wales, higher pay ranges—[Interruption.]—for officers of all ranks—