Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 11 January 2024
11 Jan 2024 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Public Service Values
No.
Despite all those warnings, which stretch back years, it is apparently now someone else’s fault. The panic among SNP ministers has been concerning to observe. I have never witnessed them cutting budgets to such a degree in-year in the way that they have done in this financial year. Who has suffered? It is colleges and universities—twice—and farmers, because of what has happened with farm support.
The flexible workforce development fund is gone this year. Even the NHS budget was not safe.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-11831, in the name of Shona Robison, on Scotland’s public service values. I invite those members who wish...
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance (Shona Robison)
SNP
People across Scotland, including all of us in the chamber, rely on public services, whether we are talking about the high-quality education and training tha...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
SNP
I very much agree with the cabinet secretary in relation to the reforms of the police and fire services and about the decluttering of the public service land...
Shona Robison
SNP
Yes, I do. There is a lot of opportunity and scope for shared services and public bodies working together and, in some cases, potentially merging. However, w...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
I am still a bit shocked that the cabinet secretary is relying on police reform as an example of great reform by the Scottish Government. We had three chief ...
Shona Robison
SNP
The most important outcome of police reform is the outcomes for victims of serious crime, particularly sexual offences, rape and murder, and the results that...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I take this opportunity to interject. If members wish to raise an issue, they know that there are ways to do that, including by standing up and seeking to ma...
Shona Robison
SNP
As I said, it is estimated that 90,000 fewer children will live in relative and absolute poverty in 2023-24. Notably, poverty levels are lower in Scotland th...
Jackson Carlaw (Eastwood) (Con)
Con
Inward migration into the UK was at a record level last year, but that was not the case for Scotland. Why?
Shona Robison
SNP
Actually, if we look at net in-migration from the rest of the UK, at least 10,000 people—who may have come from various parts of the world previously—are mov...
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the member give way?
Shona Robison
SNP
No, thank you. In December, I provided the Finance and Public Audit Committee with a detailed update that set out the Government’s aims and principles for a...
Sandesh Gulhane (Glasgow) (Con)
Con
I draw members’ attention to my entry in the register of members’ interests, as a practising NHS general practitioner. We have listened to the Deputy First ...
Shona Robison
SNP
The member mentioned health and social care, which gives me an opportunity to ask him why his Government is reducing health and social care spending. It is d...
Sandesh Gulhane
Con
I think that the Deputy First Minister needs to concentrate on the facts. Not only is this the Scottish Parliament, but you are in charge of healthcare here ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I remind all members that they need to speak through the chair. Otherwise, they are referring to me, and I have no responsibility in that regard.
Sandesh Gulhane
Con
It is little wonder that, on 20 November 2023, the Deputy First Minister refused to confirm, when asked, whether SNP ministers always tell the truth. Today,...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Members!
Sandesh Gulhane
Con
In the same way, the SNP Government decided not to spend on Scotland’s NHS the £18 billion that it has received by way of consequentials from NHS spending do...
Alasdair Allan (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)
SNP
Will Sandesh Gulhane give way?
Sandesh Gulhane
Con
No. Other examples are the spending of £7 million per year on pretend overseas embassies, millions of pounds on a failed deposit return scheme and hundreds ...
Stephen Kerr
Con
Will Sandesh Gulhane take an intervention?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Dr Gulhane is about to conclude.
Sandesh Gulhane
Con
I would take Stephen Kerr’s intervention if I could. We need to grasp the thistle. Reform is possible if there is a will to do it. The SNP’s raising of taxa...
Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
There is a very important discussion to be had about the urgently needed reform of our public services in Scotland, in order that they be fit to meet the hug...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Mr Marra is seated and has concluded his remarks. 15:24
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
What a pompous and insensitive title for a debate. We have heard lofty speeches about “Wha’s like us?” at a time when people are stuck in ambulances outside ...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member give way?
Willie Rennie
LD
No. Despite all those warnings, which stretch back years, it is apparently now someone else’s fault. The panic among SNP ministers has been concerning to ob...
Alasdair Allan
SNP
Will the member give way?