Craig Hoy
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party · Scotland
“Given the fragility of bus services across Dumfriesshire, will the minister commit the cabinet secretary, who is overseas, to a meeting with me, so that I can reinforce the case for a station at Beattock, which is now increasingly vital?”
“Jenny Gilruth: Perhaps it was a bit too much to expect some positivity about these announcements from Mr Hoy. However, I hope that he recognises that the Government has significantly adapted our position on support for businesses in relation to some of the outputs that I have set out today.”
“If kicking the can down the road was a competitive sport, this Government would win gold every single time. Many Scottish businesses now continue to face some of the highest rates liabilities in the UK, and many have seen eye-watering increases as a result of the most recent revaluation.”
“I extend to Mr Hoy the same invitation that I extended to Mr Greer. If Mr Hoy wants to come forward with some more ambitious proposals ahead of the budget, my door is open— Craig Hoy: I am seeing you tomorrow. Jenny Gilruth: We will be meeting tomorrow—I look forward to that engagement.”
“I thank the minister for her invitation for us all to work together. I will meet the Deputy First Minister next week to that end. If the new, fiscally prudent, small-state Scottish Government can commit to reducing tax and cutting the benefits bill, we will have a fruitful relationship.”
“Let us hope that that sentiment remains as we progress through the months. We need to look more broadly at where Scotland has been and where it is going. Scotland is a country that has made reducing child poverty an absolute priority—that is one of its moonshots. With our 6 per cent lower figure, we are leading the UK.”
The complete record
Every one of 926 lines we hold for Craig Hoy, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 3 of 19.
“For Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Ind) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Ind) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on motion S6M-20956, in the name of Willie Rennie, on judging the Scottish Government on its education record, is: For 59, Against 61, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment disagreed to. The Presiding Officer: The next question is, that motion S6M-20956, in the name of Willie Rennie, on judging the Scottish Government on its education record, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“For Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Ind) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Ind) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on amendment S6M-20956.1, in the name of Paul O’Kane, is: For 54, Against 67, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment disagreed to. The Presiding Officer: The next question is, that amendment S6M-20956.1, in the name of Paul O’Kane, which seeks to amend motion S6M- 20956, in the name of Willie Rennie, on judging the Scottish Government on its education record, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“For Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Ind) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) Abstentions Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on amendment S6M-20956.2, in the name of Miles Briggs, is: For 29, Against 66, Abstentions 25.”
“The vote is tied. As is usual when the Parliament has not been able to reach a decision, I am obliged to exercise a casting vote. The established convention is for the Presiding Officer to vote in favour of the status quo, as I am required to act impartially. Therefore, I cast my vote against the amendment. Amendment disagreed to. The Presiding Officer: The next question is, that amendment S6M-20956.2, in the name of Miles Briggs, which seeks to amend motion S6M- 20956, in the name of Willie Rennie, on judging the Scottish Government on its education record, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“[Inaudible.] The Presiding Officer: Mr Hoy, although your audio is not clear in the chamber, I can tell you that your vote has been recorded. For Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) Against Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Ind) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Ind) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on amendment S6M-20956.3, in the name of Jenny Gilruth, is: For 60, Against 60, Abstentions 0.”
“We encourage the Government to finally focus on rewarding local authorities and giving them the fair funding that they deserve and the Scottish Government’s guarantee—which we will put in our manifesto—to deliver in future years. 17:13”
“Now, and in the past, it is not living up to the obligations that it put into the Verity house agreement. I recognise that there will be more funds for certain councils in this package, but the package singularly fails to meet the challenges and the costs that councils will face. The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government delivers services that people across Scotland rely on every day. However, none of this funding will go near touching the sides once all those costs— particularly the labour costs—are met. That is why the Scottish Conservatives will not back this deeply deficient local government settlement.”
“The Accounts Commission has reached similar conclusions: its recent report projects a combined funding gap of around £1 billion across Scotland’s councils by 2027. That means significantly higher council tax increases in future years or more severe cuts in areas where core services and statutory functions have already been cut to the bone. Let us not forget that local government’s share of the Scottish Government budget is projected to reduce from 26.4 per cent to 24.8 per cent. That is a continuation of a decades-long trend in which council funding has been sacrificed for SNP Government priorities elsewhere. That is why we will not support this local government finance order. Ultimately, the budget is about choices. We have said all the way through that we believe that the SNP Government has made the wrong choices.”
“To go back to the cabinet secretary’s earlier point about why certain rural councils— Conservative and otherwise—are having to look at double-digit increases, it is because the funding formula works against rural local authorities, particularly in relation to social care, and particularly those rural authorities in areas that do not vote for the SNP. In future years, future finance secretaries need to look seriously at not only the funding formula for rural local authorities but the national resource allocation committee—NRAC— formula for funding rural healthcare. It is not only me who is critical of the Government’s decisions. Professor David Bell has warned that the position of local government in Scotland is severe and will become critical.”
“It is why, in that SNP council’s final draft proposal, there were cuts that would remove funding for campus cops, close small rural nurseries, reduce the number of deputy headteachers and scrap the pool of permanent supply teachers. That is the reality of the effects of SNP Government decisions on an SNP-run council. The picture is no better elsewhere. For years, councils have been asked by the Government to do more with less. As I said earlier, yesterday, the SNP-run North Ayrshire Council would have passed a budget forcing a 12 per cent increase in council tax, had numerous councillors not intervened.”
“That is why, across Scotland, councils are grappling with the challenge of balancing their books. Take Dumfries and Galloway Council, for example, which has already been forced to make £130 million in savings in the past 15 years and now faces a further £35 million gap over the next three years. That is why, today, that SNP council made a proposal for an 8.5 per cent council tax increase, which was only voted down a matter of a few minutes ago. It is why, in Dumfries and Galloway, an SNP council proposed to remove the entire funding from its citizens advice bureau and remove Alzheimer Scotland’s care services for those with dementia.”
“Right across Scotland, demand continues to rise across core services while costs remain elevated, particularly in relation to social care, where even the late adjustments to the budget will not go anywhere near meeting the requirements as set out by COSLA. The gap between what councils are expected to deliver and the resources that are available to them is becoming increasingly difficult to manage, and that will continue in the future. Let us make sure that it is on the record that it is the SNP Government’s political choice to spend more on benefits and to starve local authorities of the resources that they require. Even if, in certain years, there are real-terms increases, the scale of the challenges and the costs that councils face exceed any above-inflation increases, which only rarely occur.”
“Shona Robison: I want to ensure that Craig Hoy understands that, if the order were not to go through—as per the Tories voting against it and, presumably, wanting everyone else to vote against it, too—councils would, as a consequence, be deprived of additional funding in this financial year and the next. Does Craig Hoy really support that position? Craig Hoy: I suspect that Shona Robison’s new- found friends in the Liberal Democrats and Labour will agree to the order, which is why we will abstain on a point of principle. In the budget that was agreed to yesterday, the Government is yet again putting money in the wrong place. Councils are operating under sustained pressure following a decade of SNP underfunding, ring fencing and a centralised direction from the Scottish Government.”
“As I rise to speak to this year’s local government finance order, I cannot but reflect on the parlous position that this SNP Government has put councils of all political persuasions in by the decisions that it has taken. Right across Scotland, the financial position that councils face is dire and set to worsen. Red lights are flashing on risk registers right across the country. The order allocates funding to Scotland’s 32 councils and sets the financial limits within which council services must operate. Unfortunately, given the severity of the financial position that local government faces, we cannot support the order this evening.”
“The Government recognises the financial challenges that local authorities in Scotland—indeed, the whole public sector—are facing. We accept those. The fiscal constraints that we share emphasise the urgent need to focus on improving the delivery of public services that are designed around the needs and interests of the people and communities of Scotland. The budget bill that the Parliament passed yesterday ensures that the total funding from the Scottish Government to local government next year will be increased both in cash terms and in real terms. The order confirms the distribution to individual councils, and the proposals reflect the crucial role that local authorities and their employees continue to play in our communities. I move, That the Parliament agrees that the Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2026 [draft] be approved.”
“Shona Robison: To be accurate, the council tax that the council then set was 8.5 per cent. I am really glad that Craig Hoy intervened, because it gives me the opportunity to draw attention to something. It is of course up to individual local authorities to set council tax, but I note that the only councils so far to set a council tax rate in double figures are—guess what?— Tory-led Aberdeenshire Council and Tory-led Moray Council. Those are the only councils that are in double figures. The Tories come here demanding tax cuts, but some of the highest tax rises happen where they are in power and have responsibility. Craig Hoy: They are rural areas. Shona Robison: There are other rural authorities that do not have double-figure increases. I must move on.”
“Craig Hoy: [Made a request to intervene.] Shona Robison: I would be delighted to take an intervention if I could get the time back. The Presiding Officer: You can. Craig Hoy: I am sorry—I did not mean to press the button. Shona Robison: Oh, that is such a shame. I was hoping that there would be an intervention. I should also stress that council tax is lower in Scotland than everywhere else. Although there are differences between Scotland and England in how council tax works, I note that the average council tax bill in Scotland in 2025-26 was £344 less than the average bill in England. Craig Hoy: If, as the cabinet secretary says, this is a reasonable settlement, why did Scottish National Party-run North Ayrshire Council yesterday propose a 12 per cent increase in council tax?”
“Specific revenue funding of almost £222 million is also paid directly by the relevant policy areas, under separate legislation. The Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2026 also seeks approval for more than £365 million of changes to funding allocations for 2025-26, and the full list of changes can be found in the report on the 2026 order. I turn to council tax, which is set and administered by individual local authorities. We have provided full flexibility in setting rates for 2026-27, as all political leaders in COSLA had asked us to do. We have also provided an additional £253 million of general revenue grant to ensure that restraint on rates setting is affordable, and our means-tested council tax reduction scheme continues to protect household budgets from the impact of the council tax rises.”
“The order that is before the Parliament seeks approval for the distribution and payment of £14.7 billion of the revenue total of £15 billion, with the balance made up mainly of specific grant funding, which is administered separately. That £14.7 billion is the combination of the general revenue grant, which amounts to more than £11.2 billion, and the distributable amount of non-domestic rates income, which has been set at almost £3.5 billion. A further £104 million of revenue funding remains, which local authorities will be notified about once the distribution has been discussed and agreed with COSLA and included for approval in the local government finance order in 2027. That figure includes the £20 million of additional funding that was announced at stage 1 of this year’s budget bill process.”
“Those figures are, of course, different from the ones that were outlined in the budget statement, not only as a consequence of the additional £20 million that I confirmed at stage 1 of this year’s budget bill process but due to the additional funding for employer national insurance contributions that was added during the equivalent process last year. It is important that comparisons of budgets are made on a like-for-like basis. The order for 2026- 27 will provide a real-terms increase in the local government finance settlement of 1.1 per cent compared with the position on the order for 2025- 26—I am comparing order with order, and not budget with budget, just in case Craig Hoy is not following the detail.”
“We continue to work with COSLA to develop the assurance and accountability framework—that goes some way to answering Craig Hoy’s point; it is about assurance but also accountability for delivery, which is critical for further substantive baselining of funding. It is important to note that the total funding package for local government is already finalised, since the Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill was passed yesterday. Today’s debate simply seeks the Parliament’s approval for the distribution of that agreed total funding to individual local authorities. The Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2026 will ensure that funding for local government will increase by 3.4 per cent compared with the equivalent order last year.”
“What does the cabinet secretary say to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, which argues that many of the baselined funds still come with clear requirements to deliver on specific national priorities of the Scottish Government? Shona Robison: Many of those specific national priorities are exactly the things that we, as ministers, are asked about in the chamber by Craig Hoy, his colleagues and others. That conundrum has members coming here to demand local government flexibility but then asking us about, and holding us to account on, delivery in areas that are the responsibility of local government. However, the direction of travel is towards further baselining of funding, so we jointly published the fiscal framework in October 2025.”
“It would be possible to make provision by primary legislation in respect of budgets for public inquiries relating to devolved matters. We obviously do not have time in the next five weeks for such legislation—it would be for a future Administration—but we can certainly commit to doing some of the work that is required in the pre- election period. I am now clean out of time, but I state that there is a spirit of willingness on the part of the Government to implement the committee’s recommendations and to provide further information in advance of the election. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I call Michael Marra to close the debate on behalf of the Finance and Public Administration Committee. 15:39”
“The call to ensure that the Scottish Government sets a defined timescale based on an inquiry’s core purpose has come through loud and clear. There is precedent for that, but I also agree with the point that was made about having the option to extend the timescale that has been set out if the need arises. Having a timescale that is too concrete is a problem if, for example, in the process of inquiry, the chair discovers that it is absolutely important that the timescale be extended. I do not think that we can be closed off to that point. I acknowledge the time, Presiding Officer. On the need for defined budgets and timescales, I noted the Inquiries (Scotland) Rules 2007 in relation to ministers’ powers to make rules. We can certainly consider whether further rules regarding procedural timescales are required.”
“However, ultimately, it is the responsibility of each of us to know in our hearts not just when there is a conflict of interest but when there might be the perception of a conflict of interest, and to make sure that that is acknowledged straight away. On the need to strengthen the guidance to ensure that all options for chairs are considered, as I said to the committee, we are 100 per cent open to the appointment of inquiry chairs who are not serving members of the judiciary. Having engaged with the Lord President on that matter, I acknowledge that that is a shared position across the board, because of the impact on judicial resources. On the call for the Scottish Government to align its guidance and terms of reference more closely to a public inquiry’s core purpose, we will look at what further we can do in that regard.”
“On the call for there to be a clear requirement for a statutory public inquiry to be considered only when all alternatives have been exhausted, there is a strong, firm yes from the Government on that. On the point about reporting all aspects of potential conflicts of interest, I have given a commitment to Michelle Thomson that we will look at how we strengthen that process. It goes without saying that all ministers are personally responsible for ensuring that no conflict arises or could be perceived to arise. We can strengthen the guidance and the process in that regard, and we will look at doing that.”
“In the three minutes that I have left, I will rapidly go through the recommendations in the report and the calls that have been made in the debate. On the recommendation that the Scottish Government should reflect the core purpose, the scope and the limitations of public inquiries, I agree. We have said that we appreciate the point. We will need to give a little thought to precisely how we will do that, and we will come back to members on that. The live public inquiry that has just been announced will enable us to give effect to that approach. On the call for the development of guidance to provide a clear framework for decision making and to bring much-needed transparency and consistency to the process, again, I agree.”
“The point here is that, taking into account survivors’ views, their confidence and the appetite of politicians for another public inquiry, it is easier to say that such an inquiry should not take place than it is, in the moment, to respond in the way that we are all hypothetically asking for in this debate. Kenneth Gibson: I think that there is an element of frustration among people who seek public inquiries not about the budget but about the timescale. A lot of people who are looking for public inquiries, given the answers that they seek, do not realise just how long they are likely to take. That leads to frustration, because they want inquiries to be concluded much more expeditiously than appears to be the case. Kate Forbes: I understand that.”
“Clearly, that inquiry had to last longer than the initial four years, and the Government had to decide whether to accept or reject that. John Swinney accepted that and said that the inquiry should report as soon as is reasonably practical. John Mason: The Deputy First Minister made the point that people in the Parliament were calling for an inquiry. However, the same thing happened with commissioners—people in the Parliament on all sides were calling for commissioners, but the Parliament then decided that that was not a good idea. Kate Forbes: I am not going to get drawn into a conversation on that subject, much as I would very much like to, because it will inevitably be taken as a comment on the most recent public inquiry that has been announced. A lot could be said about that process, and I would love to comment, but I will not.”
“Sometimes, the need to respond quickly means that further work needs to be done after the response is provided, but I think that there are routes to implementing all the committee’s recommendations. I am struck that the committee’s inquiry and this debate have taken place during a period in which members have been active in calling for another public inquiry. It is easier to talk about the general principles of inquiries than it is to directly allow those points to shape the Parliament’s asks and the Government’s responses. On the points that have been made about budgets and timescales, it is worth reiterating that, when we provided a clear steer on the timescales in relation to the Scottish child abuse inquiry, for example, we were still confronted with a choice to make.”
“I close with an appeal for all those who the report touches to take its recommendations seriously, for the Government to implement the recommendations expeditiously, whichever party is in post after the election, and for future Governments and other bodies to implement the recommendations from public inquiries. Only then will public confidence be enjoyed and trust maintained. 15:32 Kate Forbes: In relation to the opening comments about the breadth and scale of the Government’s response, I reiterate that, although members might be disappointed that we were perhaps not more forthright, anyone who reads our response will see that we are positive about most of the committee’s recommendations.”
“Ultimately, it is about ensuring that those who call for a public inquiry have trust in the recommendations as well as in the Government or any other bodies to implement the recommendations. My fear is that, if we focus too much on the process and not on what happens after an inquiry has reported, we will end up improving the process, efficiency and operation of inquiries but leaving it to the Government of the day to act on the recommendations. I hate to say it, and I go back to Sir Humphrey Appleby, but there is still a desire for Government ministers to get problems off their desk and hope that they stay off their desk for as long as possible, or at least until after the next election or when they leave office.”
“The committee was clear that there needs to be some form of sunset clause so that the public, and families in particular, who, in many cases, are going through a period of trauma, know how long they will have to wait in order to get answers. Martin Whitfield: We have talked about the role of the judiciary. However, criminal and civil trials stick very well to set times. The skill of knowing how long something should take does not elude the experts in the field. Craig Hoy: I do not think that we would let defence or prosecuting lawyers dictate the pace of a trial. Judges would come down on them rather quickly if they sensed that there was any attempt to do so.”
“Over the course of recent months, I have put my views on that on the public record in the media, even though not all lawyers welcome my position. By common consent, I think that we need to look at the scope of inquires and the length of time that they can take. I do not often argue for new bodies or quangos to be created, but I think that there is a compelling case for a centralised unit and, possibly, centralised accommodation to house inquiry secretariats. None of us can forget the image of Lord Hardie crawling around on the floor and installing new duct tape so that he could get an internet connection before the trams inquiry could commence its deliberations. I believe that that needs to be assessed in the interests of the public purse.”
“I believe that the committee’s report has identified many of the critical issues that need to be addressed so that, in future, public inquiries are efficient for the Government and the public purse and maintain the trust that they presently enjoy. I believe that they are presently the gold standard and the go-to when there is a disaster, scandal or public procurement problem. We need to address three areas in future, and I hope that the Government will look at them. The budget for public inquiries needs to be fixed. Terms of reference can change over time, but I think that the Parliament and the Government must have a say if that happens, because otherwise we see the mission creep that other members have identified. The committee had some concerns about the role of lawyers in directing the length and scope of inquiries.”
“I hope that the cabinet secretary—we have heard further concessions today—as well as those outside Parliament, the broader Government machine, campaign groups and the legal fraternity take seriously the committee’s recommendations. As a former journalist, I believe that public inquiries have their place, as do royal commissions, although I note that, for some reason, royal commissions—perhaps Sir Humphrey Appleby had some influence on this—which were a creature of the 1970s and early 1980s, seem to have gone out of fashion. This is the opportunity and the time to look back and forward and assess whether the one-size-fits- all judicial model is effective and fit for purpose in modern Scotland.”
“I will let the convener into a secret: when I heard that the Finance and Public Administration Committee was going to hold an inquiry into public inquiries, I was mildly disheartened, because the cynic in me questioned the need for doing so. I am reminded of a quote from Sir Humphrey Appleby, who said: “Minister, two basic rules of government: never look into anything you do not have to, and never set up an inquiry unless you know in advance what its findings will be.” So, I questioned, off the back of a House of Lords inquiry into public inquiries, whether that would be the best use of the committee’s time. However, my cynicism was not well placed, because the report is very strong and the nine months were very well utilised to get to the heart of an issue of public administration that has perhaps been overlooked for too long.”
“John Mason: The Deputy First Minister says that she does not want to interfere in existing public inquiries—which is fair enough—but we started a new one yesterday, and I asked whether a timescale and a budget could not be placed on it. Basically, the answer was no. Why could we not have done that for new inquiries? Kate Forbes: I think that Jenny Gilruth might have alluded to this yesterday—if she did not, I hope that this is not breaking news—but we want to ensure that any new inquiries are extremely focused and are able to take into account the points that the committee has identified on timescales and budget. That has certainly been a matter of discussion.”
“I cannot wait. [Laughter.] Kate Forbes: I was going to say at the outset, before the interventions, that I want to put on record that my written response to the committee and my contribution today do not signal any change to the terms of reference or operational arrangements for any current Scottish public inquiry. I hope that that will avoid any misunderstanding about our absolute commitment to the completion of those extremely important inquiries and to their operational independence, which, as inquiry chairs frequently remind ministers, is paramount. John Mason: Will the Deputy First Minister give way? Kate Forbes: I will, because I love a good debate.”
“There will be a brief pause to allow front-bench members to change over. Cost-effectiveness of Scottish Public Inquiries”
“Parliamentary business meant that the minister could spend only 30 minutes with rural campaigners in Parliament this week, but is she aware that the south of Scotland convention will potentially be hosting two meetings in April, one most likely in Moffat? I extend an invitation to her to attend a meeting and speak to those community representatives, and I will issue a personal invitation to that effect. Gillian Martin: Those meetings will be held during the purdah period, I believe. This week, I met the convention of community councils, and we are establishing a forum for communities across Scotland to put forward their views on reforms that can take place. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Question 8 has had to be withdrawn, which means that we have concluded portfolio business.”
“In the March 2025 memo, the Lord Advocate made reference to the amount involved in the case as being more than £460,000. For what reason would the First Minister need to know that fact? The Presiding Officer: I would be grateful if members avoided specific references. The Lord Advocate: I have been asked questions before in the chamber precisely on why the amount was mentioned in the indictment— which is for the same reason that it was mentioned in the March 2025 memo. The Presiding Officer: That concludes the urgent question. Business Motion”
“In 2016-17, only 12 per cent of workers in Scotland were paying the higher rate of tax or above. By the end of the current decade, that will have risen to a staggering 40 per cent. This year alone, 66,000 Scots have been dragged into the higher rate tax band under the SNP. Before the minister repeats her tired old trope about those with the broadest shoulders, let us ask ourselves who those people really are. They include nurses, teachers, car mechanics, council administrators, heavy goods vehicle drivers and social workers. They are all now classed as high earners in the”
“The minister thought that she was being clever when she unveiled the centrepiece of John Swinney’s pre-election budget—a £32-a-year income tax cut. That was a fiscal stunt that was derided by analysts and commentators as the lowest tax cut in history—a pound-shop policy from a pound- shop Government. Behind the smoke and mirrors lies a far harsher reality for many Scottish households. By freezing upper-rate thresholds, the Government continues to push more average and middle-income earners into higher rates of tax. By the end of the decade, the SNP Government’s tax regime will look like the modern-day equivalent of state-sponsored highway robbery, but at least Dick Turpin had the sense to wear a mask. Shona Robison says that she likes facts, so let me give her some real tax facts, not the phony SNP spin that she relies on.”
“It also increases tax on businesses, with no action to stop the looming and catastrophic business rates revaluation. The Scottish Conservatives have set out an alternative to the failed left-wing approach that is now shared by all those across the other benches at Holyrood. We would lower bills for hard-working Scottish families and businesses and, in turn, grow the Scottish economy. We would end the doom loop of ever- higher taxes that pay for the SNP’s ever-ballooning benefits bill. However, that is not the approach taken by the cabinet secretary or John Swinney’s Government. Let us use the final budget debate in the current session of Parliament to look in some detail at some of the central failures in the budget.”
“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 money left. Perhaps she could leave a note that suggests that her successor does not follow suit by raising taxes on ordinary hard-working Scots. [Interruption.] Mr Swinney is already getting wound up. Tonight, the Conservative Party will be the only party whose MSPs vote against what is a bad SNP budget. We are the only party with the backbone and the conviction to tell the Scottish ministers to go back to the drawing board and draw up a budget that will give a fair deal to Scottish taxpayers, Scottish public services and businesses such as Scotland’s struggling pubs. Set against the on-going cost of living crisis, the budget will add to many people’s biggest bill—their tax bill.”
“We are restoring Scotland’s natural environment by maintaining the nature restoration fund at last year’s level, with £26 million to halt biodiversity loss and ensure that Scotland becomes nature positive by 2030.”
“That approach sits within a wider economic package. We are investing more than £31 million to drive innovation, enterprise and entrepreneurship, sustaining £326 million for our enterprise agencies and committing more than £215 million to city and regional growth deals, alongside support for regional partnerships and community wealth building. On climate, the budget recognises the significant and serious impacts of the climate emergency and the cost of inaction. The budget delivers practical action through more than £5 billion of climate-positive investment in 2026-27. That includes £316 million for sustainable travel and low-carbon transport and £47.5 million to support a just transition in the industrial sector, including £15.6 million of capital for the Grangemouth industrial cluster strategy.”