Meeting of the Parliament 05 June 2024
I am making the point—I make it again—that I am a reasonable person. If we had had a fuller discussion, we could have considered scheduling the statement. Party business managers can bring such matters to the bureau, and members surely have to entrust those responsibilities to the business managers. Of course, I recognise and respect the right of members to do so, but it is my hope that we will not see continual attempts to amend business that is presented by the bureau for Parliament’s agreement. Those matters have been discussed and agreed by the bureau.
I will, at all times, operate on the basis of seeking to facilitate fair and reasonable requests, just as I had been ready to with the one that was made in respect of EU structural funds.
As I mentioned, there has been a topical question on the matter already this week. Indeed, Liz Smith asked that question, and the Deputy First Minister gave a full answer to her on the issue. The answer was so full that Ms Smith was able to regale us with the details today.
It is very clear that the suggestion that the Government will not allocate £450 million of available EU funding for investment projects in Scotland is incorrect, as the programme is not yet complete. Indeed, partners have always had access to the funding that they requested. Final expenditure figures for that funding will be published and reported to Parliament as soon as they are finalised. I see no reason for scheduling a further statement, which will only reconfirm the position that has now been outlined twice to the chamber in the past two days.