Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 28 January 2025
28 Jan 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Investing in Public Services Through the Scottish Budget
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 spending on the constitution and independence. If it is helpful to the Parliament, before I take Alex Cole-Hamilton’s intervention, I have here what he said to the BBC only a few weeks ago. He said:
“I don’t see a circumstance where any Liberal Democrat could vote for a budget that is clearly spending money on the constitution ... I think that would be a massive misuse of public funds no matter how small ... We need every penny available spent on our schools, on our GP surgeries, on the mental health crisis.”
Alex Cole-Hamilton rose—
In the same item of business
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?