Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 04 February 2026
04 Feb 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Portfolio Question Time
Local Government Finance Settlements (Rurality)
The Parliament has previously been unanimous in its support for the climate action that is required to be taken for Scotland, and I think that it would be disappointing if we were to remove the critical investments in peatland restoration and decarbonisation and avoid Scotland playing its part.
However, on Fergus Ewing’s point of concern about the bridge, I am very happy for communication to continue with Highland Council. I think that there has been communication with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, but I will check that, and I will make sure that Fergus Ewing gets a response on the current status of those communications.
In the same item of business
6. Alexander Burnett (Aberdeenshire West) (Con)
Con
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work that it is doing to recognise rurality in local government finance settlements. ...
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government (Shona Robison)
SNP
Rurality is a key element of the needs-based distribution formula that is discussed and agreed with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on behalf of...
Alexander Burnett
Con
Aberdeenshire Council is the lowest-funded rural council in Scotland, and its public services are among the most expensive to deliver across miles of coast a...
Shona Robison
SNP
Alexander Burnett should be honest with his constituents that proposing £1 billion of unfunded, unaffordable tax cuts would wipe out any increase to the loca...
Fergus Ewing (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind)
Ind
I have a constituent farmer, Neil Gordon, in Balnaan, who relies on the use of Balnaan bridge to carry out his work. The bridge has recently been closed beca...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Always speak through the chair, please, and supplementaries should be relevant to the substantive question.
Shona Robison
SNP
The Parliament has previously been unanimous in its support for the climate action that is required to be taken for Scotland, and I think that it would be di...
Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
If the rural funding formula for councils is working and is fair, why is SNP-run Dumfries and Galloway Council currently consulting on the ending of free mus...
Shona Robison
SNP
Craig Hoy, of course, is the author of the tax policy that would remove every penny of funding that I have provided to 32 local authorities. The Tories canno...
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Answer the question.
Shona Robison
SNP
—of local government funding that the budget provides. Of course, they are going to vote against the £235 million of funding—
Stephen Kerr
Con
Answer the question!
Shona Robison
SNP
—for local government that will help the 32 local authorities, including the local authority to which Craig Hoy referred.As I said earlier, the rural distrib...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Mr Kerr, I have given you a couple of supplementaries during portfolio question time. If you want to ask another supplementary question, please press your bu...
Stephen Kerr
Con
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer.