Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-20654, in the name of Craig Hoy, on opposing the Scottish Government’s proposed council tax rises. I remi...

Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con) Con

In 92 days, Scots will be asked to pass judgment on 19 years of Scottish National Party rule. Nowhere is its record more wanting and damaging than in relatio...

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

Will the member give way?

Craig Hoy Con

I will give way to the cabinet secretary for her alternative logic.

Shona Robison SNP

They are called facts, and the facts are that, according to independent commentators, including the Accounts Commission and the Scottish Parliament informati...

Craig Hoy Con

I understand that Specsavers now does hearing tests—the cabinet secretary should have gone to Specsavers, because she did not hear what the IFS said. It said...

Shona Robison SNP

Will the member give way?

Craig Hoy Con

I will give way again.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

Cabinet secretary, briefly.

Shona Robison SNP

Just to again help Craig Hoy a little, that reference was to the spending review, not to the 2026-27 budget. He needs to understand the difference between a ...

Craig Hoy Con

The minister stood in the Parliament during the budget statement and said that there will be a 2 per cent real-terms increase to local government, but that i...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

I call the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government to speak to and move amendment S6M-20654.2.16:10

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

I welcome the opportunity to speak and correct the misinformation in the Conservative motion. First, the budget improves the local government settlement with...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

Always speak through the chair.

Craig Hoy Con

Earlier today, I spoke with COSLA, which, of course, is SNP-led, and I do not think that the Scottish Government should be lecturing anybody else on its rela...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

I can give you the time back, cabinet secretary.

Shona Robison SNP

We have provided a real-terms increase to local government and we have made sure that that funding is flexible. If Craig Hoy is suggesting that there should ...

Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab

In 2007, a fresh-faced finance secretary by the name of John Swinney was entrusted with delivering the SNP’s election promise of scrapping the council tax. I...

Shona Robison SNP

Talking of change, I refer to our proposal to introduce new council tax bands for the very highest-value homes—those that are worth more than £1 million. Tha...

Michael Marra Lab

We certainly support the principle. However, given what I have just laid out, believing in the Government’s ability to deliver anything at all in this area i...

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green) Green

I am not very surprised at my immediate feelings of frustration about how the debate is starting. There were some important and legitimate points that I agre...

Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD) LD

I am much more optimistic than Patrick Harvie is about council tax reform and local government finance reform. I have sat through endless meetings in this bu...

Shona Robison SNP

Will Willie Rennie—

Willie Rennie LD

Just a minute. I have not got to the punchline yet. Laughter. There is a punchline.Then, there is a ministerial reshuffle, and the next innocent soul comes i...

Shona Robison SNP

In no spending review outlook do the figures stay the same from budget to budget. Let us look back to the projection for local government in the spending rev...

Willie Rennie LD

I accept that. However, from looking at the chart, it is very clear that the spending lines go up for health, education and many other departments. Local gov...

Shona Robison SNP

Will the member give way on that point?

Willie Rennie LD

I do not know whether I have the time.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

Not even for your punchline, Mr Rennie.

Willie Rennie LD

I wish that we would treat local government with a bit more respect. Let us give it a proper settlement to meet the demands that it faces and the expectation...