Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

As members will be aware, the Presiding Officer is required under standing orders to decide whether or not, in her view, any provision of a bill relates to a...

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

I am pleased to open the stage 3 debate on the Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill. Before turning to the substance of the debate, I want to thank those whose work...

Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con) Con

This year, 66,000 additional Scots will be dragged into the Scottish National Party’s higher tax regime. Are they high earners?

Shona Robison SNP

Around three quarters—74 per cent—of taxpayers are expected to be unaffected by our maintaining the higher rate threshold at the same level. The resources th...

Fergus Ewing (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Ind

For two years, the Nairn bypass has been ready to go into the procurement stage for its completion. However, it will not go into procurement until 2029. Give...

Shona Robison SNP

That is far from the case. The Cabinet Secretary for Transport has kept the Parliament updated about all those important projects, and our commitment to them...

Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Will the cabinet secretary give way?

Shona Robison SNP

Of course—I am sure that Mr Marra will welcome that investment.

Michael Marra Lab

The cabinet secretary says that people from across Dundee can access the centre, but is it not the case that only patients who are already registered with th...

Shona Robison SNP

Walk-in centres will provide additional capacity for a range of people across all the locations in which they operate. It is strange that Michael Marra canno...

Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD) LD

We thank the Deputy First Minister for her commitment on colleges, which is welcomed by the sector, but that sector is looking for a long-term plan, to make ...

Shona Robison SNP

Yes. I think that I have made that clear, but I am happy to put that on the record again.We remain steadfast in our commitment to preventing and eradicating ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

Thank you, cabinet secretary. I call Craig Hoy to open on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives, for up to nine minutes.16:14

Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con) Con

I wish the cabinet secretary well as she prepares to leave the Parliament. I hope that she will not be leaving her successor a note to say that there is no m...

Keith Brown (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) SNP

Given the issues with tax during the period that Craig Hoy is speaking about, is it a good time for him to apologise for the fact that the Conservative Gover...

Craig Hoy Con

As the SNP’s depute leader, Mr Brown must have been so busy looking at the party’s accounts that he missed Covid and the war in Ukraine, which led to a signi...

Ruth Maguire (Cunninghame South) (SNP) SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Craig Hoy Con

I do not have time.

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP

Give way!

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

First Minister, please.

Craig Hoy Con

On college spending, Shona Robison claims to have delivered a major boost to the sector, which is already facing significant cash pressures, but she is misle...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

Members!The First Minister rose—

Craig Hoy Con

I will give way to Mr Swinney, but will he comment on the fact that Audit Scotland declared that the situation that colleges faced under the SNP as a result ...

The First Minister SNP

I point out to Mr Hoy that he is falling into the usual trick of the Conservatives, which is to come here and demand tax cuts that would reduce public expend...

Craig Hoy Con

Given that independent analysts have said that this budget is in a parallel universe—Interruption.

The First Minister SNP

Please answer the question.

Craig Hoy Con

I will happily give way—

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

Mr Hoy, please resume your seat. I will not have all these goings-on across the benches. We will listen to the speaker who is on his feet with some courtesy.

Craig Hoy Con

No wonder Mr Swinney wants to shout his opponents down. He knows that we are backed by independent analysts who are saying that this is a bad budget for Scot...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

It would be helpful if we did not have the running commentary from members on the front benches as people are speaking.16:24