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.”
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“This summer, all primary school pupils will have access to free swimming lessons as part of our wider summer of sport, and, by August 2027, every primary and special school will have a breakfast club. The budget backs Scotland’s economy, with targeted investment in skills, infrastructure and business growth. For housing, it delivers a record- breaking settlement of £926 million for affordable housing supply—the strongest support for affordable housing in decades. On non-domestic rates, reliefs are forecast to provide more than £870 million of support in 2026-27, including the small business bonus scheme and retail, hospitality and leisure reliefs, which will give certainty during a period of cost pressure. Transitional relief will continue to support those who face the largest increases following revaluation.”
“It brings key services together in trusted community spaces and takes a targeted approach to supporting the families who need it most. I saw that at first hand during a visit that I made some time ago to the Brooksbank Centre in Linlathen, in my constituency, where the partnership model has delivered more than £2 million in employment and income maximisation support. Since then, the approach has been expanded into Douglas and Stobswell, and families consistently highlight how convenient and accessible it is. As one parent said, “they’re able to do it all in one place … it’s great that it’s on my doorstep.” The budget strengthens that wider support.”
“From 2027–28, we will increase the payment for families with a baby under one to £40 per week. The impacts of targeted benefits spending are borne out by the evidence that we see. Relative child poverty is at its lowest level since 2014-15, and absolute child poverty at its lowest annual rate in 30 years. In 2023-24, both were nine percentage points lower than the UK average. As a result, 90,000 fewer children in Scotland are in poverty than would otherwise be the case. That investment in our children is investment that is worth making. However, progress is not measured only in statistics. Across Scotland, local partnerships are making a real difference. The Dundee fairer futures partnership is one example of that.”
“We have kept prescriptions free; we have maintained free tuition; we have continued to expand free school meals; we have protected free bus travel for under-22s and over-60s; and we have provided free baby boxes to give every child the best start in life. Those commitments help to make daily life a little steadier and a little fairer, and they reflect the values that we share as a nation. Many members take pride in Scotland’s progress on child poverty, and I share that pride. During my time as Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, and in the years since, we have continued to see real improvements as we work towards the 2030 child poverty targets that were unanimously endorsed by this Parliament. In 2026–27, the Scottish child payment will rise with inflation, supporting the families of around 330,000 children.”
“This year, 66,000 additional Scots will be dragged into the Scottish National Party’s higher tax regime. Are they high earners? Shona Robison: Around three quarters—74 per cent—of taxpayers are expected to be unaffected by our maintaining the higher rate threshold at the same level. The resources that are raised as a result of our taxation policy go into public services. That would be put at risk by the £1 billion of unfunded, unaffordable tax cuts that the Tories want to inflict on Scotland. The social contract is very important, and we have continued to protect the core elements of it that the people of Scotland rely on every day—the foundations that help to support wellbeing, opportunity and connection across Scotland.”
“Graeme Dey: Given today’s media, it is unlikely that an MSP could be sentenced in that way and that that would not be picked up on. I strongly suspect that any appeal process would also be recorded. However, there is an opportunity to take a belt-and-braces approach, and I think that the Government would take that opportunity, were the bill to pass. I urge members to support the amendments in the group. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I call Graham Simpson to wind up. Graham Simpson: I have nothing to add. Amendment 47 agreed to. Amendment 6 moved—[Sue Webber]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 6 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division. The vote is closed.”
“Of course, publicly available information will be at the disposal of the Presiding Officer to be the source of the information that is needed to act. However, if the Parliament chooses to pass the bill, the Scottish Government could explore with the UK Government the use of an order under the Scotland Act 1998 to extend notification duties to courts elsewhere in the UK. Martin Whitfield: On the Government amendments, there is a concern that a conviction in England will still count legally but that the notification could be problematic, depending on circumstances. It would potentially rely on the MSP saying, “By the way, I’m appealing this.” I welcome the assurance that an investigation might be carried out if the bill is passed.”
“Sections 18, 19 and 20 require a court that is dealing with a case that might meet the criminal offence ground for recall to notify the Presiding Officer of the outcome of the case and the status of any appeal made. I will come back to the question that Martin Whitfield posed to the member in charge of the bill in a moment. As we are all aware, the power to create an obligation for courts in Scotland is within the competence of the Scottish Parliament, but the power to make law for other parts of the UK or to place duties on courts in other parts of the UK is not. My amendments in the group will ensure that there can be no doubt on that point. The criminal offence ground in the bill will continue to apply when a member is sentenced to imprisonment in relation to an offence anywhere in the UK.”
“I support Mr Simpson’s minor and technical amendments in this group, particularly in relation to the short title and the removal of the word “removal”, on the basis that I do not support Sue Webber’s amendments on the removal of members in group 6, which we will come to. I am pointing that out now because it is a quirk of the voting order today that the short title amendments will be voted on before the debate on the amendments to reinstate removal of members for non-attendance has taken place. It will happen before all the debate has been had on whether the bill should include removal provisions. My amendments 21, 23, 24 and 26 might well be technical, but they are not minor—even if I say so myself. They are intended to provide clarity that the courts that are referred to in sections 18, 19 and 20 are courts in Scotland.”
“The reference to the word “Part”, which is removed by both these amendments, clarifies that the general interpretive rules under section 24 will now apply to the act as a whole, as opposed to applying only to part 1, on recall, as they did originally. Amendments 31, 36 and 37 amend the short title of the bill to remove reference to “removal”, to reflect that the part of the bill concerning removal of members was deleted at stage 2. I move amendment 47. Graeme Dey: As this is the first group with amendments from Mr Simpson, I advise Parliament that we will support all the amendments that he has lodged at stage 3.”
“Amendment 59 is another restructuring amendment. It moves the interpretation provisions in section 23, which are relevant to the criminal offence ground, into the “Final provisions” part of the bill. Similarly, amendment 63 moves the general interpretive provisions in section 24 to the “Final provisions” part to ensure that both sets of provisions can come into force after royal assent and will not be subject to regulations that would bring those provisions into force at a later date. Amendments 60 and 62 reflect that bill was amended to remove the original part 2, on the removal of members, and that it now concerns only the recall of MSPs.”
“I understand the challenge that we cannot instruct the English courts to make the notification, but is he confident that there are enough assurances in the bill that we will not end up with an event that bypasses us? Graham Simpson: The point of Mr Whitfield’s intervention is very important. I have considered the issue and I am confident that the bill is sound— or it will be if we pass these amendments. Amendment 56 reflects that the provision in section 22 should apply to the whole act, as opposed to only the part that it originally applied to prior to amendment at stage 2. It reflects part 2 having been deleted from the bill at stage 2. Similarly, amendment 58 amends section 23, on the meaning of expressions relevant to the criminal offence ground, so that it applies to the act as a whole and not a particular part.”
“Similarly, amendment 55, in respect of the provision in section 21A, requires the Scottish ministers to consult with the Electoral Commission prior to making regulations under section 21. Amendment 57 moves section 22, on the power to replace references with actual dates, to part 3, “Final provisions”— Martin Whitfield: Will the member give way? Graham Simpson: Is that an intervention from Mr Whitfield? Yes, I will take an intervention. Martin Whitfield: I take Graham Simpson back to amendment 26, which makes the references to the Scottish jurisdiction more accurate. Does he envisage a potential challenge, if the conviction and appeal process is in England, that any consequence may be missed or delayed?”
“Amendment 51 would ensure that the expressions that are contained in section 14A apply to the relevant chapters of the bill as it has been restructured at stage 2 and following any required printing amendments. 15:45 Amendment 54 reflects that, in the bill as amended at stage 2, section 31, on commencement, mentions that “This Part”— meaning the final provisions—will come into force after royal assent and all other provisions will “come into force on such day as ... regulations appoint.” The amendment places section 21, on regulation- making power, before section 29 in the part of the bill titled “Final Provisions”, such that section 21 will come into force after royal assent.”
“Amendments 47 and 49 reflect that part 2, on removal, was deleted at stage 2 and that the reference to a “recall termination notice” applies to the act as a whole, as opposed to one part of it. Section 21 is concerned with the conferral of subordinate legislation-making powers. Amendment 7 would place the wording of section 21(5), which was inserted at stage 2, in a stand- alone section, after section 9. That is because this rule-of-law provision confirms the terms on which a recall process may be questioned and does not confer regulation-making powers. Amendment 30 would remove the provision from section 21(5). Amendment 50 is a stylistic refinement—I bet members have never heard of that type of amendment before—which would remove the word “but”, as it is not required. The effect of the provision would remain the same.”
“Amendment 5 disagreed to. Section 9—Early termination of process Amendment 46 not moved. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Group 3 is entitled “Minor and technical”. Amendment 47, in the name of Graham Simpson, is grouped with amendments 49, 7, 50, 51, 21, 23, 24, 26, 30, 54, 31, 55 to 60, 62, 63, 36 and 37. I point out that if amendment 32, which was debated in the group on removal for offending, is agreed to, I cannot call amendment 59, due to pre-emption. I call Graham Simpson to move amendment 47 and speak to the other amendments in the group. Graham Simpson: Most of these minor and technical amendments are mine; some are from the minister. I will go through each in turn. A number of the amendments restructure the bill, including to reflect the deletion of part 2 at stage 2.”
“For 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) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (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) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (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) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) 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) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Ind) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (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) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) 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) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) 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) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Ind) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (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) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 26, Against 85, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 4 disagreed to. Amendments 43 to 45 not moved. Amendment 5 moved—[Sue Webber]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 5 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“For 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) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (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) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (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) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) 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) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Ind) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (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) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) 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) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) 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) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Ind) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (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) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 26, Against 85, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 3 disagreed to. Amendment 4 moved—[Sue Webber]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 4 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“For 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) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (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) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (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) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) 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) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Ind) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (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) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) 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) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) 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) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Ind) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (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) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 25, Against 85, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 42 disagreed to. Section 5—Recall initiating notice Amendment 3 moved—[Sue Webber]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 3 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“For Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (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) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Ind) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) 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) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) 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) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) 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) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) 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) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) 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) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (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) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (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) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Ind) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (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) 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 Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 41, Against 69, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 42C disagreed to. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I call Sue Webber to press or withdraw amendment 42. Sue Webber: I press amendment 42. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 42 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“On a point of order, Deputy Presiding Officer. My app has frozen, but I would have voted yes. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr Hoy. Your vote will be recorded. For 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) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (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) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (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) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) 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) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Ind) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (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) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) 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) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) 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) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Ind) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (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) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 26, Against 84, Abstentions 0.”
“The cabinet secretary talks of stability. After 19 years of Scottish National Party Government, there is one thing that Scotland’s middle earners can be certain of: that they will be squeezed ever more to fill the gaps left by the SNP’s runaway spending and misplaced priorities. As the benefits bill blooms, the civil service grows and Government waste accumulates, it is average-earning Scots— nurses, teachers and police officers—who are repeatedly handed the bill. Today is no different; no amount of spin about tax cuts can obscure that fact. The SNP Government’s tax strategy does absolutely nothing to grow the Scottish economy. In fact, the Government’s own tax advisory group was sidelined while the strategy was being created.”
“As I explained to Craig Hoy at the Finance and Public Administration Committee, it would take at least a year to make the changes to social security policy that he is proposing—God forbid that any Parliament would ever agree to them—so, in the world that he wants to create, front-line services would need to be cut before 1 April. That would include cuts to the £250 million that is going to local government, the additional funding for colleges and the additional funding for the national health service. All of that would have to go, because there would be £1 billion less in tax revenue. Those are the facts.”
“In what might be the only moment of consensus, we agree on the case for a progressive tax system, but how is it progressive to have a higher percentage of workers paying higher tax rates year after year after year? Shona Robison: About three quarters—74 per cent—of taxpayers are expected to be unaffected by the higher-rate threshold being maintained at the current level. The question that Craig Hoy has to answer is how it is possible for his party to propose £1 billion of unfunded tax cuts, the money for which would come out of public services, while demanding increases in public spending. That is just not a credible position.”
“To ask the Scottish Government how much it anticipates it will spend on matters relating to constitutional policy and strategy in 2025-26 and 2026-27. (S6O- 05519)”
“I must also note that the proposal was not explored as part of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee’s scrutiny of the bill. By contrast, the Government has taken action to introduce two key safeguards: the new notification duty on listed public authorities and the new reporting requirements on the Scottish ministers. For all those reasons, I cannot support amendment 14 and I encourage Maggie Chapman not to move it. If she does, I ask members to resist amendment 14, as well as amendment 15. I urge members to support amendment 25, which is in my name, along with Maggie Chapman’s amendments 13 and 13A. I move amendment 25.”
“Neither the Government nor the Parliament has had sufficient time to fully consider any financial implications or potential unintended consequences, and in particular the constitutional implications of a new power. As far as I am aware, there has been no consultation with the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service on the new power. I am mindful of the broader context, including the findings of the Finance and Public Administration Committee’s recent report on Scotland’s commissioner landscape and the Government’s response to that report. There is a clear expectation that any expansion of parliamentary bodies’ powers should be discussed early with the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, but, as the amendment was lodged only at stage 3, we have not had the opportunity to do so.”
“The Government therefore does not believe that amendment 14 is either necessary or appropriate. This is a key strength of the act: it provides a clear and effective route to test legislation in the courts when concerns arise. The UNCRC act was deliberately designed so that the Lord Advocate would be notified of any proceedings to challenge legislation; that is the Lord Advocate’s constitutional role as guardian of the statute books. The amendment would therefore duplicate the route that already exists under the UNCRC act, and it would give to the commissioners powers that should rest with the Lord Advocate. In addition, any significant new statutory power for commissioners of the kind that amendment 14 seeks would require careful scrutiny. Stage 3 of the bill is therefore not the appropriate place to introduce it.”
“That said, I do not believe that amendment 13A would significantly alter how the duty operates in practice. On that basis, and in the interests of consensus, if Maggie Chapman chooses to move amendment 13A, we will support it. I turn to amendment 14. I understand that the intention behind the proposal is to give the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland and the Scottish Human Rights Commission an additional power to bring proceedings to determine the compatibility of legislation with the UNCRC requirements in cases where the section 6B exemption might apply. I begin by affirming that we are committed to a system in which legislation can be challenged in the courts. The UNCRC act already gives the commissioner and the SHRC the powers to do so.”
“I have also continued our positive engagement with children’s rights stakeholders, who are broadly supportive of the approach. Nonetheless, I note that Maggie Chapman also lodged amendment 13A, which would slightly modify the trigger for notification. Instead of referring to how a listed authority “has acted” or “is proposing to act”, it refers to the “exercise, or potential exercise” of a relevant function. The original wording was chosen because the section 6B exemption centres on a public authority’s actions, as does the underlying duty to act in accordance with the UNCRC requirements under section 6 of the 2024 act. In the Government’s view, amendment 13 is slightly clearer and more tightly aligned with the underlying legal test.”
“Applying that duty only to listed authorities under section 19 of the UNCRC act will ensure that the duty is placed on those whose services most directly affect children and young people and those who have the appropriate expertise to support them in assessing whether that notification is required. At stage 2, I said that any duty of that kind must be clear, proportionate and workable. By linking the duty to public authorities’ existing obligation to read and give effect to legislation in a way that is compatible with the UNCRC requirements, it meets those tests. The Government has engaged directly with listed authorities on the proposal. Several welcomed the link to existing duties under the act and felt that it was proportionate and addressed their concerns relating to previous approaches at stage 2.”
“I am grateful for the constructive conversations that I have had with members from across the chamber and for the similarly constructive conversations that stakeholders have had with officials. As part of that engagement, the Government worked with Maggie Chapman to develop amendment 13, which would place a duty on public authorities listed in the UNCRC act to notify the Government, the children’s commissioner and the Scottish Human Rights Commission when those listed authorities are of the view that they cannot read and give effect to relevant legislation in a way that is compatible with the UNCRC requirements, and that the exemption in section 6B therefore applies to the way in which they have acted or proposed to act. In effect, that will ensure that concerns are flagged to the Government at an earlier point.”
“In any event, amendment 15 would operate in a similar way to my amendment 25, but I believe that amendment 25 is clearer, more proportionate and better integrated with our existing framework. I therefore ask Maggie Chapman not to move amendment 15 and instead to support amendment 25. Turning to amendments 13 and 13A, I welcome the fact that the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee supported the Government’s stage 2 amendment that created a duty to notify when the section 6B exemption is raised in legal proceedings. However, I have listened to the concerns that MSPs and stakeholders have raised that that duty might apply too late in the process, because the issue will already have reached court. In response, I committed to cross-party engagement on the issue.”
“Subject to amendment 13 being agreed to—I will speak to that shortly—ministers will also report on notifications that are received from certain public authorities that are named in the UNCRC act. Importantly, amendment 25 will also require ministers to report on any actions that they intend to take in response, which will support both transparency and accountability. Amendment 15, in the name of Maggie Chapman, would require ministers to undertake an audit of legislation and report on the findings. Although I welcome the intent behind amendment 15, I believe that my amendment 25 provides for a more proportionate and coherent approach. That is because amendment 25 ties directly into the notification and intimation framework that the bill seeks to add to the UNCRC act and the reporting obligations for the children’s rights scheme.”
“That commitment was in direct response to amendments from Maggie Chapman and Stephen Kerr and it has been a key ask from children’s rights stakeholders. Amendment 25 delivers on that commitment. It will require the Scottish ministers to report on the use of the section 6B exemption annually to the Parliament through the existing framework of the children’s rights scheme. Specifically, ministers must report on notifications that are received under the court-based processes that were introduced at stage 2, by which the Lord Advocate, the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland and the Scottish Human Rights Commission will be notified when the section 6B exemption is raised in legal proceedings.”
“Amendment 24 disagreed to. Section 2—United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024: circumstances where incompatible action or failure to act is not unlawful The Deputy Presiding Officer: Group 6 is on scrutiny of use of exemptions. Amendment 25, in the name of the cabinet secretary, is grouped with amendments 13, 13A, 14 and 15. Jenny Gilruth: This group covers a number of technical and legally complex issues, so I hope that members will bear with me. I recognise the calls for greater transparency in relation to the use of the exemption in the new section 6B that the bill will insert into the UNCRC act. During stage 2 proceedings, I committed to lodging a Government amendment to introduce a reporting requirement on the Scottish ministers.”
“For Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) 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) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (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) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) 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) 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) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (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, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (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) 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) 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) 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) 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) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (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 Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 50, Against 68, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 23 agreed to. Amendment 24 moved—[Paul O’Kane]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 24 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app froze, but I would have voted no. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr Hoy. I will ensure that that is 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, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (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) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) 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) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) 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) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (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) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) Against Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) 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) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Ind) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) 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) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 73, Against 45, Abstentions 0.”
“This budget does not add up. It does not add up for Scottish taxpayers, with more people dragged into ever-higher tax under the Scottish National Party. It does not add up for Scottish councils, which are now considering brutal cuts and blistering increases in council tax, despite the discovery of an additional £20 million today for social care. It does not add up for Scotland’s NHS, with health boards in effect facing no real-terms growth in spending. It certainly does not add up for Scotland’s pubs and shops, which, despite today’s U-turn on reliefs, still face crippling increases in business tax.”
“Along with the 15 per cent relief for the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors for properties on the basic or intermediate property rate, which was announced at the budget, total relief for eligible licensed hospitality premises and music venues will be 40 per cent for the next three years— capped at £110,000 per business per year. The Scottish Fiscal Commission will cost that, but we estimate that it will provide about £9 million of additional support during 2026-27. I have also listened to concerns that have been raised by those in the self-catering sector. I will introduce a specific revaluation transitional relief for that sector, which will cap increases in gross liabilities due to revaluation at 15 per cent year on year, up to the next revaluation.”
“I committed to passing on to hospitality any additional consequential funding from the United Kingdom Government’s recent announcement on business rates for pubs and music venues in England. We consulted the business community prior to finalising our package, and I confirm that the Scottish Government will provide 25 per cent additional relief for the next three years for licensed hospitality and music venues that are on the basic or intermediate property rates, including pubs, restaurants, hotels, nightclubs and licensed clubs.”
“However, I am confident that the choices that we have made are ones that will secure a fair, healthy and prosperous society for Scotland’s people. Tackling child poverty remains the Government’s top priority, and the budget sets out investment that will make a material difference to families across Scotland. For example, by August 2027, we will deliver a universal breakfast club offer for primary school children and will increase wraparound activity clubs for those children. We are also investing more than £111 million in our tackling child poverty fund and in whole family support to provide wraparound support to families in poverty. Support for the most vulnerable includes universal services such as free prescriptions and university tuition—services that this Government chooses to continue to invest in. I turn to non-domestic rates.”
“Shona Robison: I had an excellent meeting with COSLA group leaders yesterday, including the Conservative group leader, and I have had lots of messages today welcoming the money for the real living wage and the additional money for social care. It will go on the record that Craig Hoy does not welcome anything in the budget. All the money for affordable housing, all the money to support businesses, all the money to support children and families—Craig Hoy does not support a penny of it. I think that that will haunt him for some time to come. We have also been transparent that this is a budget in which we have had to make difficult choices. With increasing demand on public services and low funding growth, there have to be trade-offs.”
“Will the cabinet secretary give way? Shona Robison: I will give way to Craig Hoy, who, of course, has not managed to secure anything through the budget process. I am sure that he will be full of suggestions. Craig Hoy: I would not want our party’s name associated with anything in this budget because, at the end of the day, this Scottish Government— [Interruption.] The Deputy Presiding Officer: Members! Craig Hoy: This Scottish Government has just said that it has engaged positively with stakeholders. What does she say to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, which says that the budget is insufficient to avoid significant cuts or large increases to council tax?”
“Yesterday, Mr Kerr the Younger referred to me as “Pollyanna”; I live in hope that, even on the Conservative benches, there will be some people who will see sense—indeed, perhaps they will even see common sense—and be prepared and have the courage to follow the evidence about what will work and will, at the end of the day, make our communities safer. The evidence shows that a high prison population level does not equate to a safer Scotland. If other countries can make reforms to their prison population without compromising public safety, why cannot Scotland? The Deputy Presiding Officer: That concludes the statement. Before we move to the next item of business, there will be a short pause to allow the front-bench teams to change position. Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill: Stage 1”