Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-15792, in the name of Craig Hoy, on delivering a commonsense budget for Scotland. I invite members who wi...

Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con) Con

Last week’s budget continues on a path that has been well trodden by the Scottish National Party—more tax, more excuses, poorer public services and an abunda...

Michelle Thomson (Falkirk East) (SNP) SNP

Mr Hoy is, along with me, on the Finance and Public Administration Committee. When the Scottish Fiscal Commission was in front of us yesterday, I specificall...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

Always speak through the chair.

Craig Hoy Con

We are getting the cheap insults in early. What I heard yesterday was the Scottish Fiscal Commission issuing to the Scottish Government a series of warnings ...

The Minister for Public Finance (Ivan McKee) SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Craig Hoy Con

I will make some progress, then give way shortly. That policy would mean more money for young families who are getting their homes together and less for the...

Ivan McKee SNP

Does Mr Hoy recognise that there are significantly more teachers, doctors, nurses, midwives and police officers per head of population in Scotland than there...

Craig Hoy Con

The minister needs to learn a lesson. Yesterday, we found out that there are fewer teachers and doctors, but I know that, under the SNP, there are more spin ...

Stuart McMillan (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Craig Hoy Con

No. I do not have time. In the budget, there is up to £50 million for a national care service that even SNP councils no longer support, and there is £8 mill...

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government (Shona Robison) SNP

I welcome any opportunity to talk about the draft budget, but there is one particular aspect of the Conservative motion that I think it is incumbent on us al...

Craig Hoy Con

Will the minister give way?

Shona Robison SNP

In a moment. Scotland’s economy is one of the best performing of any part of the UK. One of the most important factors in realising that has been the attrac...

Craig Hoy Con

For the record, can the cabinet secretary state how much she is receiving from the UK Government to extend rates relief to the Scottish retail, leisure and h...

Shona Robison SNP

The consequentials are about £145 million. We have to be very careful in what we allocate this year, because there will be no consequentials next year from t...

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD) LD

The cabinet secretary mentions the relief in the hospitality sector that has been felt as a result of the rates relief that was announced in the draft budget...

Shona Robison SNP

We think that the position that we have put forward is balanced and affordable and focuses on hospitality. We will continue to have discussions on that, but ...

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

The cabinet secretary needs to work a bit harder on her pre-scripted gags, given the response from the chamber. On the issue of welfare spending, surely we ...

Shona Robison SNP

And that is why we are investing in employability. Interruption.

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

Cabinet secretary, please resume your seat for a second. I say to members that I have allowed a little bit of leeway in terms of reaction to what is being sa...

Shona Robison SNP

It is strange that the Tories talk about unsustainability only when it comes to welfare funding and do not talk about unsustainable tax cuts that would take ...

Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I begin with full-throated agreement with the cabinet secretary on the appalling motion that has been lodged today by the Conservatives. Frankly, it is benea...

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con

Will the member take an intervention?

Michael Marra Lab

No, I will not. Asylum seekers are not political pawns to be used by the Tory party to try to outflank Reform on the right. The motion has been condemned by...

Murdo Fraser Con

Is Mr Marra not a little bit embarrassed that he represents a party that has slashed the winter fuel allowance for the most vulnerable group of people in our...

Michael Marra Lab

There is certainly a debate—it is one that we have regularly in this chamber—about the winter fuel payment, and there are also debates about how many parts ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

Speak through the chair.

Michael Marra Lab

There are flaws in our tax system. As experts have told the Finance and Public Administration Committee, the Scottish system is unduly complex and economical...

John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Ind

Would the member give way?