Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-16237, in the name of Neil Gray, on investing in public services through the Scottish budget. I invite me...

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care (Neil Gray) SNP

Scotland’s public services are the foundation of our society. Through our public services, we ensure that all individuals, regardless of their background or ...

Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I am glad to hear that the cabinet secretary welcomes the additional investment from the Labour Government in public services in Scotland. How would he pay f...

Neil Gray SNP

We have not rejected all means. We have taken responsibility here in Scotland and raised revenue through our more progressive income tax policy, which means ...

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

Will the cabinet secretary give way?

Neil Gray SNP

I will—for the final time, I think.

Murdo Fraser Con

The cabinet secretary mentioned social care. He will be well aware that delayed discharge is a major issue across the health system, which adds costs to the ...

Neil Gray SNP

The First Minister and I dedicate considerable time in seeking to address the delayed discharge issues and to improve social care services. I have engaged wi...

Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

Made a request to intervene.

Neil Gray SNP

I am sorry—I am struggling for time. I cannot take Pam Duncan-Glancy’s intervention. Overall, the Scottish Government will invest more than £1 billion in hi...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Cabinet secretary, you will need to conclude and move the motion.

Neil Gray SNP

High-quality, sustainable public services are crucial in progressing our ambitions of eradicating child poverty, growing the economy and tackling the climate...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I call Craig Hoy to speak to and move amendment S6M-16237.2. 15:18

Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con) Con

I echo Neil Gray’s thanks to our emergency service workers and public service workers for their Herculean efforts in response to the extreme weather this wee...

Fergus Ewing (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP) SNP

As we heard last week, one way of saving significant amounts of money, particularly in rural parts of Scotland—arguably £4 million or £5 million in the Highl...

Craig Hoy Con

Precisely. Our rural areas need that kind of support, as my colleague Edward Mountain has been calling for, and as I know that Fergus Ewing has also been cal...

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

What does the member say to the Lib Dems and Greens, which have announced today that they will support the budget?

Craig Hoy Con

I thank the member for that—it is an open goal. I was perplexed this morning to see that the Liberal Democrats will vote for the budget, not least in the lig...

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

Will Craig Hoy give way?

Craig Hoy Con

I will give way in a moment. Let me first quote the member’s words and see whether he has a reason for saying them. It is clear that the budget contains spe...

Craig Hoy Con

For the avoidance of doubt, Martin Geissler asked Mr Cole-Hamilton the question again: would he support a budget that contained a penny on independence? He s...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I call Alex Cole-Hamilton.

Craig Hoy Con

Will he apologise for misleading Scots, just as he did in the Colinton by-election?

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Is the member going to give way? I call Alex Cole-Hamilton.

Alex Cole-Hamilton LD

I am grateful to Craig Hoy for finally giving way. Does Craig Hoy recognise that there are aspects of Government expenditure pertaining to the constitution,...

Craig Hoy Con

Those things could all have been achieved without rolling over on the question of independence, as Alex Cole-Hamilton has done. If Alex Cole-Hamilton wants ...

Neil Gray SNP

Will the member give way?

Craig Hoy Con

I do not think that I have time, I am afraid. However, as the Scottish Fiscal Commission notes, despite the Government saying that it will raise a further £...

Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab

The worst-kept secret in Scottish politics is officially out, and with the support of the Greens and the Liberal Democrats, the budget is certain to pass. Th...

Neil Gray SNP

Will the member give way?