Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid): NPA

The next item of business is a statement by Tom McCabe, on the local government finance settlement 2007-08. The minister will take questions at the end of hi...

The Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform (Mr Tom McCabe): Lab

Through this statement, I am pleased to provide details of the local government finance settlement for 2007-08, the domestic rate poundage for 2007-08 and th...

The Presiding Officer: NPA

The minister will now take questions on the issues raised in his statement, for which I will allow about 45 minutes.

Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): SNP

I welcome the minister's statement and the advance copy of it that he provided for me.I also welcome the fact that at long last, after much asking, the minis...

Mr McCabe: Lab

Oh, no, no—Mr Swinney is too late. He should not bother welcoming what I have announced today, when a few weeks ago it was a bribe. Along with all other memb...

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): Con

I, too, thank the minister for his statement and for the provision of an advance copy of it. I can only hope that I am more successful than Mr Swinney was in...

Mr McCabe: Lab

The member might get better answers if he asked better questions than Mr Swinney did, but he has not done very well, so he has failed that test.It is remarka...

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): LD

The Liberal Democrats welcome the Executive's move to reduce business rates to the level south of the border, but we are disappointed that the minister has n...

Mr McCabe: Lab

There are many ways in which we can give a competitive edge to Scottish business. The Executive has demonstrated time and again that we are determined to giv...

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): Lab

Judging from the long faces of members in certain parties, one would not believe that it was good news that was being announced.I welcome the additional £250...

Mr McCabe: Lab

I welcome the member's sincere acknowledgement of this afternoon's announcement.I made it clear that, due to successive actions of the Executive, a competiti...

Mark Ballard (Lothians) (Green): Green

The additional core funding for local authorities is welcome. However, does the minister recognise that the additional funding justifies what the Finance Com...

Mr McCabe: Lab

First and foremost, since Mr Midwinter expressed his view, we have demonstrated that a wide range of funding is making its way towards children's services. T...

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): SNP

Given that the Executive's efficient government initiative is in total disarray, with the minister being unable to tell the chamber anything other than the g...

Mr McCabe: Lab

I know what is in disarray. The SNP's campaign director, Angus "Taxman" Robertson, says that taxes will rise under the SNP. Mr Salmond hears about it only at...

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): Lab

The minister mentioned welcome incentives for businesses in Scotland, especially small businesses. However, if businesses were burdened with administering th...

Mr McCabe: Lab

There would be an impact on businesses, and they have expressed concern about yet again being used as unpaid tax collectors, which would have a significant i...

The Presiding Officer: NPA

Order.

Mr McCabe: Lab

I will tell members what the SNP could not buy. It could not buy a new Victoria hospital or Stobhill hospital in Glasgow and it could not build the infrastru...

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): Con

Tom McCabe likes to portray himself as Father Christmas, but for some councils he is still regarded as Mr Scrooge. What will the minister do about levels of ...

Mr McCabe: Lab

The Conservatives cannot make up their minds. Either they want local democracy or they want central control. Which is it?As I said in my statement, since 199...

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (Sol): Sol

Presiding Officer, this is not your fault, but trying to get an answer from the minister is becoming a bit of a farce. I hope that if I ask specific question...

Mr McCabe: Lab

Not only has the Parliament not heard empty rhetoric on homelessness, it has produced the most progressive legislation on homelessness of just about any Parl...

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): LD

I agree with the minister on the key role of local authorities. I welcome the increase in funding, especially as it is to be baselined, as Dr Murray said. To...

Mr McCabe: Lab

On that last point, an important part of the discussions that we have with local government is an examination of the totality of the spend on care services i...

Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab): Lab

On behalf of my constituents, I warmly welcome the content of the minister's statement. The Scottish National Party has stated that it would cap local income...

The Presiding Officer: NPA

Mr McCabe, you will answer for your statement, not for another party's policies.

Mr McCabe: Lab

Quite so, Presiding Officer. However, although we have announced today a positive funding package for local government that is costed and deliverable, it is ...

The Presiding Officer: NPA

Order.

Mr McCabe: Lab

As we properly consider the stability of funding for services at local level, it is worth our reminding people that the two councils in Scotland with the hig...