Hansard

The First Minister SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

Motion of Thanks

I move,That the Parliament expresses its thanks to its Presiding Officer, Alison Johnstone, for her dedicated service to the Parliament; thanks her Deputy Presiding Officers, and pays tribute to all of those Members who are standing down at the end of this session.

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

Motion of Thanks

As this sixth session of the Scottish Parliament comes to a close, I extend my thanks to the Presiding Officer and the Deputy Presiding Officers for the service that each of them has given to the Parliament over the past five years.The Presiding Officers have always managed th...

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time

I recognise the seriousness and the significance of the issue that Mr Ewing raises, which is being decided on by the UK Government. The fact that the UK Government has not come to a decision for some considerable time is causing no end of frustration. Like Mr Ewing, I am heari...

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time

The purpose of the investment that the Government has made in the summer of sport is to ensure that exactly what Mr Whittle has set out can be realised as a consequence. The summer of sport is designed to engage communities the length and breadth of the country, to give indivi...

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time

I will certainly give consideration to whether a phased approach would be practical. I understand that different proposals are at different stages, so we can certainly consider the issue that Annabelle Ewing has raised and has championed on behalf of her constituents.As Annabe...

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time

I have every sympathy with the issue that Mr Sweeney has raised, but such matters are properly for Glasgow City Council and its arm’s-length organisations to determine. The Parliament often wrestles with the issue of where decisions should be made, and such decisions are prope...

The First Minister SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time

It is all very well for Mr Eagle to take issue with me on this question, but the real guilty parties on Brexit and its implications for agriculture are the Conservative Party and its activities, and the Conservatives will be found out for all of that on 7 May.

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time

I will tell Mr Eagle what is uninspiring: the implications of Brexit, which his Government forced upon the people of this country. Agricultural support has been undermined by the Conservative Government’s actions in negotiating the Brexit that it put in place.

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time

The Government has taken a number of steps to support renters through the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025, but we are also setting out proposals to provide up to £10,000 towards a deposit to give people the help that they need in order to buy their first home. I have heard from ma...

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time

Every effort is made to ensure that the CalMac Ferries network can meet the needs of all island communities, and there will be local dialogue about the delivery of individual services. New vessels are joining the fleet—the MV Isle of Islay is about to enter service, which will...

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time

I am delighted to welcome those developments, which have come about as a result of a tenacious campaign by the Pearson family on behalf of their daughter Grayce, supported by Bob Doris, who has been an enthusiastic champion of that objective. The screening programme is an esse...

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time

I recognise the importance to people in the south-west of Scotland of the facility at the Citadel leisure centre. As Sharon Dowey makes clear, it is a matter for South Ayrshire Council. Obviously, through the investments that we are making in the budget, the Government is prov...

The First Minister SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Immigrants and Minority Groups (Protests and Rhetoric)

I associate myself entirely with Jamie Greene’s comments. Jamie Greene has made a distinguished contribution to this Parliament over the 10 years that he has been here, and I wish him well for all that lies ahead for him. He has made an important contribution in shaping many o...

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Immigrants and Minority Groups (Protests and Rhetoric)

I strongly condemn rhetoric that seeks to vilify or dehumanise minority groups. Scotland has a proud history of welcoming people of all nationalities and faiths, including those seeking refuge and asylum from war and persecution. We all share responsibility to uphold that lega...

The First Minister SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · HMP and YOI Polmont (Staff Shortages)

Yes, it will be rolled out to the remainder of the estate.The Scottish Prison Service’s new approach to control and restraint is successfully running in three establishments. I am pleased to say that the Prison Officers Association Scotland has welcomed it, and we will take fo...

The First Minister SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · HMP and YOI Polmont (Staff Shortages)

First, I record my sadness at the death of Daniel Kerr, which Pauline McNeill referred to. It is a tragedy, and I extend my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Daniel Kerr. The Government clearly regrets that that has happened.There has been a very strong focus on ...

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · HMP and YOI Polmont (Staff Shortages)

I welcome the report and have noted the continued improvements that the Scottish Prison Service has made since the inspection was carried out last August, as set out in the post-inspection update. I also fully understand that, although much progress has been made, there remain...

The First Minister SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Children (Assaults in Hospitals)

Yes, I agree with that point. In August, the Government published a sexual harassment guide to supplement the bullying and harassment and the gender-based violence policies that we have in place. The guide aims to support those who are active and operating in the leadership of...

The First Minister SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Children (Assaults in Hospitals)

Any form of abuse of that nature is completely abhorrent. I expect health boards to work closely with Police Scotland and to uphold their legal duties as employers to keep staff, patients and visitors safe. Health boards have a legal duty and reporting systems in place to reco...

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Children (Assaults in Hospitals)

I am horrified by any suggestion that children have been assaulted while in hospital. I expect health boards to work closely with Police Scotland to keep patients, particularly children, safe. The national guidance for child protection in Scotland makes it clear that all conce...

The First Minister SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Conversion Practices (Ban)

I am happy to give that confirmation and make that commitment to Joe FitzPatrick and to make it clear that the Government is absolutely committed to equality, to advancing the rights of the LGBTQI+ community and to ending harmful and abusive conversion practices in Scotland.Gi...

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Conversion Practices (Ban)

Conversion practices cause lasting harm and have no place in Scotland. The Scottish National Party Government is clear that we will end this abhorrent practice and ensure that everyone can live free from abuse.We have publicly consulted on proposals for Scottish legislation an...

The First Minister SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Free Bus Travel

I am very pleased that the Government that I lead is able to afford a balanced budget that puts the money in place to deliver on our policy priorities. As a consequence, I am very proud that, because of the steps taken by this Government, child poverty in Scotland is falling. ...

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Free Bus Travel

All those steps are very welcome, but the Government has also put in place a £2 bus fare cap, which is being taken forward in the Highlands and Islands to determine how it can operate. We have abolished peak rail fares and we have frozen rail fares so that more people can use ...

The First Minister SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Scottish Government (Record)

One of the things that Anas Sarwar failed to mention in his commentary about the national health service is that, since 2021, we have had the Covid pandemic, which created significant disruption to our national health service. What is the Government doing about that? The Gover...

The First Minister SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Scottish Government (Record)

The Government has to wrestle with a whole number of different challenges. Since 2021, we have had to wrestle with the significant levels of inflation that have arisen as a consequence of the invasion of Ukraine and all that flowed from that. Despite that, the Scottish Governm...

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Scottish Government (Record)

In the course of the Government’s term of office, we have taken steps to improve the lives of people in Scotland, whether that is in delivering a stronger economy, which has been delivered against the tides of austerity and the inflation surge in 2022, or in the health service...

The First Minister SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Scottish Government (Record)

The Government is focused on people’s priorities and on delivering improvements in the lives of the people of Scotland. That is what has driven my public service for the past 29 years as a member of Parliament. It has driven every moment of my privilege to serve the people of ...

The First Minister SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Scottish Government (Record)

I am left with the same question that I had a moment ago. If all that was the case, why are the Conservatives heading for a disaster at the forthcoming parliamentary election? It is because they are simply peddling a doom loop of despair, and that is killing the Conservative p...

The First Minister SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Scottish Government (Record)

The international credit ratings agencies complimented the “prudent” financial management of Scotland. The only person in the Parliament who has any explaining to do about their stance on fiscal recklessness is Russell Findlay, for telling me to follow Liz Truss. What a disast...

The First Minister SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Scottish Government (Record)

The international credit ratings agencies complimented—Interruption.Oh, they do not like this—Interruption.

The First Minister SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Scottish Government (Record)

I reassure Russell Findlay, in case he is worried about my energy in the next few weeks, that I am just raring to go for the forthcoming election and to win it well for Scotland.As for aw the pile of abuse that he has just spouted out, which he spouts out every week, let me re...

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Scottish Government (Record)

I defend the interests of the people of Scotland every day of my being. Having listened to Russell Findlay’s poorest hits over the course of the past minute or so, I am left wondering why the Conservatives are going to get decimated at the forthcoming election.

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill

Before Parliament votes tonight, I want to reflect on what this moment represents for Parliament, and for care-experienced young people in Scotland. Throughout the debate, we have spoken about systems and reform, but, at its heart, the bill is about people. It is about the chi...

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time

Rhoda Grant has raised a very important point. I understand that no decision has been taken by NHS Highland on the future of its chronic pain intervention service. The Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health has been clear about the need to ensure that local communities ...

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time

As First Minister, I have made clear on countless occasions the importance that I attach to making sure that there is a just transition in the North Sea oil and gas sector for those who are affected. That is delivered by making sure that we have the right climate to enable tha...

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time

I fear that Gordon MacDonald has been spending too much time in the company of his next-door neighbour from Paisley. It is something on which we have every sympathy with Mr MacDonald. Laughter. However, I know that he will miss his daily encounters with the member for Paisley ...

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time

I share Mr Griffin’s concerns. The Deputy First Minister and the Minister for Business and Employment have spoken to the GMB union about the matter and we are establishing discussions with the company about the situation; Scottish Enterprise is already engaged with the busines...

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time

I welcome Mr Stewart’s comments and I attach the greatest importance, as I know he does, to supporting young people whose mental wellbeing is in jeopardy.The Government takes a range of steps to ensure that we address issues of mental wellbeing and suicide prevention and that ...

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time

I am glad to hear Mr Gibson’s welcome of the Government’s acquisition of Ardrossan harbour, which is a commitment that the Government gave to Parliament. It is another commitment delivered by my Government and enables us to take forward the securing of the Ardrossan to Brodick...

The First Minister SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Scottish Information Commissioner (Legal Advice)

The innuendo of Mr Fraser’s remarks is not lost on me, but I will quote the commissioner again:“I think the Scottish Government in general is actually very good when it comes to freedom of information.”As I said in my first answer to Katy Clark, there have been 13,000 FOI requ...

The First Minister SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Scottish Information Commissioner (Legal Advice)

We need to be clear that we are talking about two distinct issues. As I understand it, the commissioner’s comments on further legal action relate to legal advice and not to material that we hold on the Hamilton report.The commissioner is wholly independent of Government. His b...

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Scottish Information Commissioner (Legal Advice)

The Scottish Government has answered more than 13,000 freedom of information requests since the start of 2024, and 95 per cent have been responded to on time. The commissioner has raised compliance concerns about two of those cases. One relates to a delay in compliance of just...

The First Minister SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Care Home Deposit Fees

I am very sympathetic to Mr Mountain’s point. I can understand that a reasonable deposit might be required, but it feels unreasonable to require an excessive deposit. In circumstances in which a loved one has died, a delay in repayment is unacceptable.There are a couple of way...

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Care Home Deposit Fees

Deposit fees form part of the private contract between the provider and the individual. The Scottish Government is not party to such contracts. However, in recognition of the importance that the Scottish Government places on the sector, our budget for the forthcoming financial...

The First Minister SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Glasgow Central Station (Businesses)

Mr McMillan makes a fair point. I will consider further whether we need to change our planning laws to allow transport agencies to have a greater say in the way that he suggests.The aerial photography that is now available of the site demonstrates the danger and the risk that ...

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Glasgow Central Station (Businesses)

The first thing that I would like to say is to express my warmest thanks to Network Rail, ScotRail and all the players in Glasgow City Council that have been involved in making sure that Glasgow Central station is now partially open, that services have been able to be restored...

The First Minister SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Prestwick Airport (Military Use)

I sympathise and agree with all the sentiments about the conflict in the middle east that Gillian Mackay has put to me. However, I cannot, at the same time as condemning the Israeli and United States intervention in the middle east as being incompatible with international law,...

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Prestwick Airport (Military Use)

That is an issue that I have looked at very closely. The conflict in the middle east is a subject that is causing members of the public enormous concern and unease, and it is having enormous ramifications for every citizen in our country in relation to energy prices, the cost ...

The First Minister SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Hospitals (Ventilation and Water Safety Issues)

I am taking an approach to the Queen Elizabeth university hospital that is about working to build public confidence and trust in the operation of the hospital. That is why representatives of the families who have suffered are members of the public oversight group that is looki...

The First Minister SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Hospitals (Ventilation and Water Safety Issues)

I repeat my point that that is the language of a desperate man. What I have said to the public—and I stand by it—is that the Queen Elizabeth university hospital is a safe hospital. Issues will emerge in our hospitals, but the crucial point is that those issues must be addresse...

The First Minister SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Hospitals (Ventilation and Water Safety Issues)

If Jackie Baillie would stop shouting at me, I will walk my way through these different issues, because it is important that I give Parliament and the public a clear answer on this question.Issues arose from the Queen Elizabeth university hospital that resulted in the Scottish...

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Hospitals (Ventilation and Water Safety Issues)

Mr Sarwar’s language is the language of a desperate man. He should think twice about the language that he uses in Parliament, because in a climate where we need to undertake respectful debate, there is nothing respectful about the language that Mr Sarwar has used. I am going to—

The First Minister SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Income Tax

Russell Findlay has changed tack. He walked away from his attack on the social security system when I pointed out the unpleasantness of the Conservatives’ attack on the vulnerable within it.The analysis that I am very confident about is the analysis of the international credit...

The First Minister SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Income Tax

Russell Findlay has changed tack with that question, because my comments to the Parliament today rumbled his earlier attack on the social security system—Interruption.

The First Minister SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Income Tax

Enterprise and compassion—that is what people get from an SNP Government led by John Swinney.

The First Minister SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Income Tax

There is absolutely nothing selective about the statistics that I have put on the record, so I will put a few more on the record. A band 4 dental nurse at the bottom of the scale will earn £30,353 and take home £2,065 more after tax compared with a dental nurse in the same ban...

The First Minister SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Income Tax

Let us explore some of the details of the tax position of people in Scotland compared with people in England. A band 2 hospital porter at the bottom of the scale will earn £25,694 and take home £913 more after tax compared with someone in the same band in England. A band 3 cli...

The First Minister SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Income Tax

That is the SNP delivering for all the people of Scotland.

The First Minister (John Swinney) SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time · Income Tax

I am very proud of the budgetary and tax decisions that the Government has taken over many years, and I am proud to have been associated with those decisions. Today, 55 per cent of Scottish taxpayers are expected to pay less income tax in 2026-27 than they would if they lived ...