Shona Robison
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“For the purposes of rule 9.11 of standing orders, I advise the Parliament that His Majesty, having been informed of the purport of the Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill, has consented to place his prerogative and interests, in so far as they are affected by the bill, at the disposal of the Parliament for the purposes of the bill.”
“I acknowledge that there have been rising costs across the whole public sector. They include the rising costs of employer national insurance contributions and VAT, while the global situation at the moment will put fuel costs up for local authorities and every other part of the public sector. We are well aware of the rising costs.”
“All local authorities in the north- east region have announced council tax increases that are well above the rate of inflation. Financial and social pressures on many constituents make it difficult for them to pay their rent, and delays in receiving social security support compound that situation.”
“Presiding Officer, before I answer the question, I hope that you will indulge me just for a moment, as this is my last portfolio question time and my last opportunity to speak in the Parliament. I take this opportunity to thank my Government officials for all their support in my Government role.”
“Local government has a key role to play in driving progress on reducing child poverty, including by delivering whole-family support that breaks the cycle of poverty. That is why the 2026-27 Scottish budget provides a further real-terms increase to the local government settlement.”
“However, if the amount of funding was truly sufficient, SNP-run councils such as Perth and Kinross Council would not be forced to raise council tax by nearly 9 per cent simply to stand still. Does the cabinet secretary accept that the so- called record funding is not keeping pace with rising costs?”
The complete record
Every one of 509 lines we hold for Shona Robison, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 2 of 11.
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I could not connect. I would have voted no. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Ms Robison. Your vote will be recorded. For Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Ind) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Ind) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (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) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) 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) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Abstentions Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 53, Against 67, Abstentions 3.”
“I ask the cabinet secretary to give immediate and urgent consideration to reopening the local bridge maintenance fund to ensure that communities in Moray and throughout Scotland can repair and replace critical infrastructure. Will she do that? Shona Robison: At no point did Craig Hoy on behalf of the Tories bring to me a proposal for a local bridge maintenance fund as part of the budget negotiations. If Tim Eagle believes that that is important, perhaps he should have had a word with his front-bench colleagues to make it a condition of support for the budget. That is how things get done in the Parliament—not by the posturing of Tim Eagle and others. HIAL Airports (Accessibility) 4.”
“Tim Eagle: That seems to be passing the buck back to councils, which simply do not have the capital budgets to do the work. My constituents do not want to hear about who did or did not support the budget or what council budgets are not. They care about the fact that bridges are crumbling around them. We need to see outside the bubble of Holyrood and into the reality of what is happening in our areas. The Cloddach bridge has been closed for more than four years. The Spey viaduct, which was a popular active travel route, is still sitting in the water. Arthur’s bridge, which is a pivotal bridge for Lossiemouth, is declining fast. However, councils throughout Scotland, including Moray Council, simply do not have the budgets to fix bridges.”
“Local authorities have a duty under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 to manage and maintain local roads and associated infrastructure in their areas and duties under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to secure the convenient and safe movement of traffic. The vast majority of funding available to councils is provided by means of a block grant from the Scottish Government. It is then the responsibility of individual local authorities to manage their own budgets and to allocate the total financial resources that are available to them, including on maintenance of local roads and bridges, on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities.”
“I am confident that the amended bill addresses the Supreme Court judgment, brings the bill within legislative competence and minimises the possibility of a further referral to the Supreme Court. 16:27”
“Although the report acknowledges that potential workarounds exist, the authors are of the view that an overall solution is required to the issues that have affected the UNCRC act and the bill that we are discussing. As the children’s rights scheme that was laid before Parliament in November 2025 records, the Scottish Government is committed to progressing engagement with the UK Government in that regard. However, the report concludes that the Scottish Government cannot resolve those challenges alone. We will consider the next steps, including engaging with this Parliament, the UK Government and others on the authors’ expert analysis. As I outlined during the earlier debate, reconsideration of the bill was the logical next step to enshrine existing good practice in law following the signing of the Verity house agreement.”
“I am aware that a number of stakeholders who wrote to the committee in response to its call for views have suggested that, in future, the bill’s scope could be expanded by, for example, re- enacting relevant UK act provisions as acts of the Scottish Parliament. As I mentioned earlier, the University of Glasgow’s centre for public policy recently published a major report that examines devolved lawmaking following the Supreme Court’s section 28(7) rulings. That report highlights that, although the Scottish Parliament may amend or repeal UK laws in devolved areas and create new laws, it may not condition the meaning or effect of UK legislation, nor may it make UK Parliament rules dependent on decisions by Scottish ministers or the courts.”
“My amendments broadly align with the approach taken during reconsideration of the UNCRC bill, ensuring coherence across the legislative framework. Key provisions of real value remain intact, including the duty on ministers to promote local government and the requirement for charter compatibility statements for every new bill. COSLA, as the principal stakeholder, has been clear that enacting the bill, even in its amended form, remains far preferable to having no legislation at all, and that the bill will still play a significant role in strengthening the position of local government in Scotland’s constitutional landscape.”
“However, despite extensive engagement with the UK Government, we were unable to rule out the possibility of a further referral of the bill to the Supreme Court unless a more cautious approach was adopted. Given the limited time left in this session of Parliament, we therefore agreed with Mr Ruskell and COSLA that the priority must be to complete reconsideration swiftly while minimising the possibility of a further referral. I welcome Opposition members’ acknowledgment of that in the debate on 4 February. I emphasise that, even as amended, the bill remains an important step forward. It embeds charter principles in Scots law, providing legal protection for local government that is not available elsewhere in the UK, and signals this Parliament’s commitment to respecting local democracy and fostering the cultural change that that requires.”
“On 1 October 2024, I confirmed in writing that the Scottish Government would lodge and speak to the necessary amendments, drawing on our experience with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill. That is what we have done. The amendments agreed to today address the issues identified by the Supreme Court and I am confident that they will bring the bill within the legislative competence of this Parliament. I have been clear that my amendments reduce the reach of the charter provisions in Scots law. The Scottish Government had hoped to preserve more of the bill as originally passed, including our hope to avoid restrictions to section 2, which the Supreme Court did not specifically adjudicate on.”
“I begin by thanking COSLA, Mark Ruskell and officials for their continued commitment and support ahead of today’s reconsideration debate, and Andy Wightman for his work before that. I thank the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee and the stakeholders who engaged with it on my reconsideration amendments, and I also thank my officials, who have worked hard and supported me to reach this point. Following the referral of this member’s bill to the Supreme Court, the Scottish Government confirmed that we would do all that we could to support Mark Ruskell to progress the bill to reconsideration as soon as practicable. That commitment was reaffirmed in the Verity house agreement.”
“The rationale for that approach is accepted by COSLA and was accepted in many of the stakeholder responses to the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee’s request for written views on my amendments last month. It was also recognised in the recent University of Glasgow centre for public policy report on the impact of the Supreme Court jurisprudence on section 28(7) of the Scotland Act 1998. Ministerial colleagues and I welcome the report as a significant contribution to the discussion around what section 28(7) of the act means for devolved lawmaking, and I encourage members to read it. I move amendment 1.”
“The amendments to section 2 are similar to the approach that was taken at the reconsideration stage for section 6 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024 and have the full support of COSLA, which is the representative organisation of local government in Scotland—the bill’s key stakeholder. Although we do not consider the changes to be strictly necessary in order to bring the bill within competence, they are necessary to minimise the possibility of a further referral and the inevitable delays that would result from that. As such, I consider that they provide the best opportunity to complete reconsideration in this parliamentary session and secure royal assent while still retaining much of the spirit of the bill.”
“The duty on ministers to exercise functions compatibly with the charter would apply only when they exercise functions that are conferred by acts of the Scottish Parliament, Scottish statutory instruments that are made under acts of the Scottish Parliament or common-law powers. The duty would still apply to UK act amendments that are made to acts of the Scottish Parliament, unless the relevant UK legislation expressly requires or permits ministers to act incompatibly with the charter. However, provisions that are made by acts of the Scottish Parliament that are inserted into UK acts would not be subject to the duty, because the amendments provide that a function that is conferred by words inserted by one enactment into another enactment is regarded as conferred only by the modified enactment.”
“Although section 2 was not part of the original Supreme Court reference and was not mentioned in the judgment, the current uncertainty about the effect of section 28(7) means that, if left unamended, the bill might be subject to a further Supreme Court referral—an outcome that Mark Ruskell, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Scottish Government all wish to avoid. The group 1 amendments that I have lodged therefore seek to amend section 2 in order to carve out ministers’ functions that sit in UK acts or secondary legislation that has been made under UK acts. That means that devolved functions under pre-devolution UK legislation would not be covered by the compatibility duty.”
“As members have had cause to reflect in recent committee discussions on children’s legislation, that can create uncertainty in situations in which devolved compatibility duties might be argued to bear on the effect of UK Parliament legislation operating in devolved areas, including pre‑devolution enactments. The amendments in this group all concern section 2 of the bill, which places a duty on the Scottish ministers to act compatibly with the charter. Section 2, as passed, was confined to devolved functions but silent about the source of those functions. As such, it included devolved ministerial functions that derive from pre‑devolution UK legislation.”
“As I confirmed when speaking in the debate on the motion to move the bill to the reconsideration stage, my officials have engaged constructively with United Kingdom Government officials for a significant time, which has involved sharing draft amendments and pursuing a co-operative dialogue on the implications of the Supreme Court judgment for the bill’s key operative provisions. That engagement, and the process of developing amendments, ultimately highlighted once again the challenging practical effects of the restrictions on the Parliament’s scope to legislate that result from section 28(7) of the Scotland Act 1998—the provision that states that the power of the Scottish Parliament to make laws for Scotland “does not affect” the power of the UK Parliament to do so— and the Supreme Court’s judgment.”
“The amendments that I have lodged to the European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill on the Scottish Government’s behalf are designed to achieve three things: to retain as much of the bill’s original purpose and practical effect as possible; to frame the applicable duties and remedies clearly within the boundaries of devolved competence to address the Supreme Court judgment’s findings; and, possibly most importantly, to minimise the possibility of a further Supreme Court referral.”
“The budget also baselined a further £773 million of funding, which takes the total funding that has been consolidated into the core general revenue grant since the Verity house agreement was signed in 2023 to almost £2.3 billion.”
“The 2026-27 local government finance settlement provides a real-terms increase compared with the position in 2025-26, as the Accounts Commission and the Scottish Parliament information centre have confirmed. Over the longer term, the total local government finance settlement has increased by £5.4 billion, or 52 per cent, between 2016-17 and 2026-27. That is a real-terms increase of almost 10 per cent, despite UK Government austerity measures. The outcome of the Scottish budget provides clear evidence of our commitment to the fiscal framework between the Scottish Government and local government. More frequent and meaningful budget engagement has been fundamental in making the decisions that underpin the budget, including providing full flexibility for council tax.”
“That is simply not enough to change the difficult fiscal position that we face, which means that tough choices on transformation and efficiencies are required to balance demands for public spending within our funding constraints. The 2026-27 Scottish budget that the Parliament passed yesterday is a budget that delivers opportunity for Scotland by investing in families, public services and the economy while continuing to build a fairer, greener and more prosperous future. The Scottish budget delivers record funding of £15.7 billion to councils in 2026-27, by providing revenue funding of more than £15 billion and almost £0.7 billion of support for capital expenditure.”
“The motion for today’s debate on the Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2026 seeks the Parliament’s approval of the guaranteed allocations of revenue funding to individual local authorities for 2026-27. It also seeks agreement to the allocation of additional funding for 2025-26, which has been identified since the equivalent order in 2025 was approved on 27 February 2025. For context, the average real-terms increase in the resource block grant is only 0.5 per cent per annum across the spending review period, which falls far short of what is required in the current fiscal landscape. The capital block grant reduces in real terms by 0.3 per cent by 2029-30.”
“We can see the results of that approach in Scotland’s economic performance. For 10 consecutive years, Scotland has been the leading place in the United Kingdom, outside London, for inward investment, and independent assessments have confirmed that the Scottish Government has a high investment grade credit rating. Our income tax policy for 2026–27 will continue to protect the majority of taxpayers while supporting the investment that is needed in our public services and the social contract. We are maintaining our commitment to shield those on lower incomes: more than half of taxpayers are expected to pay less in Scotland than they would elsewhere in the”
“Turning to the substance of the debate, I want to begin where all meaningful public work must begin—with the people whose lives are shaped by what happens in this chamber. Every decision that we take shapes the lives of people across Scotland—their daily experiences, the services that they rely on and the opportunities that they hope for. As Parliament is aware, the fiscal and economic context remains highly challenging. Even in the past three years alone—the period for which I have served as Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government—we have faced sustained inflation, higher interest rates, pressure on household incomes and increasing costs for public services. Despite that, we have focused on practical action to support people, to strengthen our economy and to build resilience.”
“I am pleased to open the stage 3 debate on the Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill. Before turning to the substance of the debate, I want to thank those whose work has brought us to this point: the Finance and Public Administration Committee and all the parliamentary committees that have applied rigorous scrutiny to the budget; the Scottish Fiscal Commission, which provides the independent forecasts that underpin our decisions; and the officials across the Scottish Government whose dedication ensures that a publication of such a scale can be delivered. I am also grateful to the First Minister and Cabinet colleagues for their support throughout, and to those Opposition members who have engaged constructively throughout the process.”
“It is important that that is done in partnership, and those discussions are on-going.”
“Will the cabinet secretary say how much of the £20 million funding she expects to be used for the universal learn to swim offer? Will the amount that the Scottish Government allocates help with the full roll-out? Is that based on every local authority being allocated funding for delivery, including facility, teaching and transport costs? Has there been recent engagement with local government on the deliverability and affordability of the Government’s proposed learn to swim programme? Shona Robison: As I said in my initial answer, work is on-going on the modelling, which will indicate the timeframe for full implementation. The programme will be fully funded by the envelope that is provided, and officials are in the process of working with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on the details of that.”
“We are providing £20 million to ensure that all children and young people in Scotland can take part in sporting activities, harnessing the energy and excitement of the upcoming 2026 summer of sport. That includes the universal learn to swim offer for every child in Scotland, which will continue beyond this year. A national project group has been established to support implementation, provide oversight and enable learning and consistency across partners. Local authorities will be able to draw down from the costed implementation plan, in line with their local context. Neil Bibby: The cabinet secretary will be aware that I support and welcome any measures that will give our children the opportunity to learn to swim, which is a life-saving skill, but it is vital that councils are fully funded so that that is fully delivered.”
“That is not to say that there are not challenges within health and social care partnerships—there absolutely are, because of demographic changes and the pressures on local services. That is why those real-terms increases are important. Going forward, the solution will require transforming local services, including in our health and social care partnerships. I am happy to correspond with Katy Clark on the specifics if she would find that useful.”
“Last week, residents were notified that the local health and social care partnership is consulting on cuts to social care, with one option being to restrict social care to people who are assessed as being at critical risk. Will the cabinet secretary intervene to provide fair and sustainable funding for North Ayrshire Council so that social care and other local services are protected from further cuts? Shona Robison: I mentioned in my initial response the increase in the local government settlement over the years. This year’s settlement is £15.7 billion. Importantly, within the general revenue grant, there is £253 million of flexible resources. The national health service has received a significant real-terms increase as well.”
“The total local government finance settlement has increased by £5.4 billion, or 52 per cent, between 2016-17 and 2026-27. That is a real-terms increase of almost 10 per cent, despite austerity measures from the United Kingdom Government. Sustainability requires reform and innovation across the public sector to deliver joined-up and preventative services, as set out in the public service reform strategy. The Scottish Government will continue to work in partnership to address the challenges that councils are facing and ensure that we are operating the sustainable, high-quality public services that communities expect and deserve. Katy Clark: In the past decade, North Ayrshire Council has made cuts of more than £90 million to local services.”
“However, she will be aware that, through the fairer funding pilots, we are trying to ensure that there is certainty over multiple years. As I also said in my initial answer, we are trying to get as many of the grant letters as possible out the door, to give people that certainty. If Maggie Chapman wants to write to me with the specifics of those organisations—some of which might rely on local funding rather than national funding—I would be happy to look into the details that she has provided.”
“In Aberdeen, the anti-poverty fairer Aberdeen fund could be slashed, music lessons and libraries in schools cut, and support for unpaid carers removed. Organisations are already reducing staff hours, not renewing contracts or closing life-changing and life-saving services because of delays to funding information. Given that our communities rely on local government and third sector services to survive, what reassurances can the cabinet secretary give to workers, communities and organisations that the delays that cost people their jobs, livelihoods and services will not be repeated in future years? Shona Robison: I said to Maggie Chapman that the lateness of the UK Government budget has meant that there are challenges.”
“The Scottish Government greatly values the vital role of the third sector across Scotland, and we recognise the real pressures that it is facing, given the financial context. We are committed to doing what we can to improve the sustainability of the third sector. The late timing of the United Kingdom Government budget has had a knock-on effect on the timing of our budget, but significant work has been undertaken since the publication of our draft budget to ensure that as many third sector organisations as possible are notified of funding decisions for the forthcoming financial year. Maggie Chapman: In Dundee, Dundee Contemporary Arts, the Dundee Rep, Dundee International Women’s Centre, Harris Education and Recreation Association and many others are at risk of losing funding or closing projects.”
“As I said in my initial answer, work is going on with the pathways pre-start activity, which is specifically designed to support underrepresented entrepreneurs, including women, with awards of up to £75,000. I will write to Rachael Hamilton once I have managed to look into the figures that she has shared. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Question 4 has been withdrawn. I call Maggie Chapman, who joins us remotely. Budget Consultation Processes (Impact on Third Sector Organisations) 5.”
“Rachael Hamilton: Freedom of information data from the Scottish Government agency South of Scotland Enterprise, covering the financial years from 2021-22 to 2025-26, shows that just five loans worth £481,500 were awarded to female-led organisations, compared with 22 loans totalling more than £5.48 million to non-female-led organisations. Given that data, does the finance secretary believe that women who are setting up businesses in rural areas such as the Scottish Borders are being supported equitably? Shona Robison: I am disappointed to hear those figures. I will certainly look into the reasons for those decisions. Obviously, South of Scotland Enterprise makes decisions at arm’s length from the Government, but I am concerned to hear that so few loans have been given to female-led organisations.”
“The Scottish Government is committed to advancing women’s entrepreneurship across Scotland, including in the Scottish Borders. In the draft Scottish budget 2026-27, the entrepreneurship and innovation budget has again increased, which reflects the priority that we place on supporting entrepreneurs. Supporting women to start and scale up businesses is central to our broader enterprise strategy, and we aim to ensure that women benefit directly from our wider entrepreneurship and business support programmes, including the recently announced £2 million ecosystem fund. In addition, we are currently piloting the pathways pre-start activity in the south of Scotland, which has been backed by £3 million of investment through South of Scotland Enterprise since 2024.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted yes. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Ms Robison. I will ensure that that is recorded.”
“Unemployment also remains lower in Scotland; indeed, it is forecast to be around 4.2 per cent lower than in the UK over the next five years. Ernst & Young’s annual attractiveness survey continues to show greater growth in foreign direct investment projects in Scotland than in the rest of the UK. Since the introduction of Scottish income tax in 2017-18, more taxpayers have come to Scotland than have left, with net inflows averaging almost 4,200 per year.”
“As I begin today’s debate, I will first draw the Parliament’s attention to the procedural connection between the debate and rule 9.16.7 of standing orders, which states that a Scottish rate resolution must be agreed before stage 3 of the budget bill can proceed. This rate resolution gives the Parliament an opportunity to provide stability in our tax system while delivering vital investment in our public services and giving our young people more opportunities to learn and flourish. Our approach to date has shown that there is not a trade-off between a progressive tax policy and the economy. Since 2007, Scottish gross domestic product per person has grown by 8.7 per cent, compared with 6.7 per cent in the United Kingdom, and, according to the latest forecasts, it is set to continue to grow faster, as are earnings.”
“We welcome the announcement that the UK Government has committed funding for the remainder of the current study, as that will enable us to complete the initial work on considering improvements to the key route at Springholm and Crocketford and to identify a preferred route option by early 2027. For Women Scotland Case 7.”
“Shona Robison: I would say first of all that there is specific reference to improvements to the A75 and A77, including the Springholm and Crocketford bypasses, in the new infrastructure delivery pipeline that was published on 13 January and that an outline business case that is in development will define that further. I am pleased that Finlay Carson has welcomed the £1.1 million for the ground investigation works contract, and I can tell him that the design assessment work to consider options for realigning the trunk road, with bypasses at those villages, is well under way and proceeding at pace.”
“Finlay Carson: I welcome this week’s announcement of the £1.1 million ground investigation works contract for the Springholm and Crocketford bypass project, which is a clear escalation of preparatory work. However, communities want clarity on the financial direction of travel, not just technical studies. Will the cabinet secretary confirm in unequivocal terms whether full dualling of the bypass remains a funded and actively supported option for the Government? Will she set out precisely what formal engagement her Government has had with the United Kingdom Government regarding the budgeting, cost sharing and assessment of the dualling option, so that we can understand whether the necessary financial structures are in place?”
“The draft budget includes investment to facilitate the installation of railway electrification infrastructure on sections of the Borders line and to complete the new Dumfries high school. Across the south of Scotland, it will support the delivery of affordable homes, around 2.5 hectares of woodland creation, 268 hectares of peatland restoration and a new water treatment works in Boreland. Through the growth in city region deals, it will ensure that work continues on creating the 113-mile walking and cycling trail connecting Berwick-upon-Tweed and Moffat, and it will promote growth by developing new fit-for- purpose business units in Tweedbank.”
“As the First Minister noted earlier, such engagement helps to ensure that we have the best support for the people of Scotland. I am therefore very pleased that the Liberal Democrats have confirmed their support for the budget.”
“This budget will give every primary school child in Scotland the chance to learn to swim; it will establish new high street general practitioner walk- in centres and provide almost £22.5 billion to deliver and reform the health and care services that we all rely on; it will encourage entrepreneurship by providing support and funding to our young future business leaders; and it is expected to leave more than half of Scottish taxpayers with more money as a result of living here in Scotland. Since the draft budget was introduced, the Government has engaged widely across the Parliament and beyond. We have listened carefully to the views of committees, local government, business, the third sector and wider civic society, and I have valued my constructive discussions with Opposition members and parties across the chamber.”
“I am very pleased to open this stage 1 debate on the Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill. The budget invests £68 billion in Scotland’s families; in the essential services that support them, such as the national health service; and in the infrastructure that underpins our national prosperity. With the support of members across the chamber, the choices that we have made will be felt meaningfully by people here in Scotland.”
“I put on record my thanks to COSLA for all the work that it has done in this area so far. Agreeing to the motion to reconsider the bill is the necessary first step to allow Parliament to scrutinise and decide on my amendments. I invite members to support Mark Ruskell’s motion so that we can, before the end of this session of Parliament, deliver a bill that remains faithful to the charter’s purpose, is workable in practice and strengthens local self-government in Scotland. 17:20”
“By the end of this parliamentary session, we will have baselined more than £2 billion of the general revenue grant, jointly published a fiscal framework with COSLA, completed the local governance review, taken forward short-term action to enhance the ability of councils to innovate, meaningfully progressed work towards a power of general competence, introduced new revenue- raising powers and commenced groundwork to support future council tax reform. Reconsideration of the bill is the logical next step to enshrine that existing good practice in law. Crucially, COSLA, as the key local government representative organisation in Scotland, supports the amendments that I intend to lodge; it shares the priority of completing reconsideration in this session of Parliament and avoiding a further referral.”
“Those include subsidiarity and “a presumption in favour of local flexibility”, using language that was drawn directly from the charter. The agreement has already helped to realise many of the aspirations of the charter by strengthening and framing the relationship between our two spheres of government and setting out how we will work together to better deliver improved outcomes for the people of Scotland. The agreement also committed ministers to ensuring that local government has greater flexibility to tailor solutions to meet local needs.”