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 3 of 11.
“That engagement and the process of developing amendments has once again highlighted the challenging practical effect of the restrictions on the Scottish Parliament’s scope to legislate that result from section 28(7) of the Scotland Act 1998. That section states that the power of the Scottish Parliament to make laws for Scotland “does not affect the power of the Parliament of the United Kingdom” to do so. Discussion of the implications of the Supreme Court judgment continues, and we expect further academic and stakeholder commentary on the matter. Although the amendments that I intend to lodge would limit the legal impact of the bill to some extent, it should be remembered that the Verity house agreement, although not legally binding, already commits ministers to act consistently with many of the charter’s principles.”
“First, the amendments will retain as much of the bill’s original purpose and practical effect as possible. Secondly, the amendments will clearly frame the applicable duties and remedies in the bill within the boundaries of devolved competence, in order to address the findings of the Supreme Court judgment. Thirdly, and crucially, the amendments will minimise the possibility of a further Supreme Court referral. My officials have been engaging constructively with UK Government officials for a period of time, sharing draft proposals and pursuing a co- operative dialogue on the implications of the Supreme Court’s judgment for the bill’s key operative provisions.”
“As the Parliament will be aware, the European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill was the second of two bills that were referred to the Supreme Court and found to be outwith the Scottish Parliament’s legislative competence by it. In my letter to Mark Ruskell last month, which was published by the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee, I confirmed that, if the Parliament agrees to reconsider the bill, the Scottish Government will lodge and speak to the amendments that we deem to be necessary, drawing on our previous experience of supporting a bill’s progress through reconsideration. If the Parliament agrees to Mr Ruskell’s motion, I intend to lodge amendments as soon as possible that will be designed to achieve three things.”
“I am pleased to contribute to the debate following the opening remarks from Mark Ruskell, who is the member in charge of the bill. I pay tribute to him for the constructive engagement that we have had. The Scottish Government remains committed to the European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill and to the charter’s principles. That sits alongside the Verity house agreement and the explicit commitment by ministers to support Mark Ruskell to progress this member’s bill to reconsideration stage as soon as possible. Our offer of practical support was informed by our experience of the first bill to proceed to reconsideration stage in the Scottish Parliament. That is now the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024.”
“Some multimillion-pound homes currently face bills that are not materially different from those for far more modest properties. If the Tories want to defend that, good luck to them. I am happy to move amendment S6M-20654.2, to leave out from “with concern” to end and insert: “that each local authority sets its own council tax rates; recognises the importance of building political consensus through the current consultation to deliver fair reform to local government taxation, and welcomes that a ‘Mansion Tax' will be brought forward in 2028 that will add two additional council tax bands, to be applied to properties valued at over £1 million.” 16:15”
“That is a 54.6 per cent increase, or 7.3 per cent in real terms, delivered in the face of years of Tory austerity. As recently as 16 January, SPICe confirmed that the past three budgets have all included real-terms increases in the local government revenue settlement, and I mentioned the Accounts Commission earlier. I want to distinguish clearly between the wider council tax reform and the targeted policy that was announced in the Scottish budget to introduce new council tax bands for the very highest-value homes that are worth more than £1 million, which some have called a mansion tax. I hope that Labour will support that principle, given the similarity to proposals from the Labour UK Government. The measure, which will affect fewer than 1 per cent of properties, seeks to address fairness at the top end of the system.”
“That analysis and our consultation did not recommend a single solution; instead, it modelled a number of illustrative options and examined their potential impacts and how affordability could be protected. All the options that were modelled were designed to be revenue neutral at a national level, meaning that they would not increase the overall amount of council tax that is raised across Scotland. The Government is clear that any reform must be fair. The motion also raises concerns about funding, without ever saying how much more the Tories think should go to councils or how they would pay for it, given their call for £1 billion of tax cuts. We know that it is just back-of-a-fag-packet stuff. The fact is that the local government finance settlement has increased by £5.5 billion between 2013-14 and 2026-27.”
“I appreciate that there is an election on the horizon, and that the Conservatives are flailing about using whatever desperate tactics they can to try not to end up in fourth or fifth place, but, although they appear happy to abandon any dignity, I ask that they correct the record for the inaccuracies that they have brought to the chamber today. The consultation that Mr Hoy referred to closed last week and is part of a jointly agreed programme of engagement between the Scottish Government and COSLA to inform discussion and build consensus. Importantly, the consultation was underpinned by robust evidence, with independent analysis from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, which I know Craig Hoy is keen to quote from.”
“If the minister is content that the Government’s funding is reasonable, and the First Minister is saying that council tax increases should be around 3 per cent, why did COSLA tell me today that most councils are considering increases of 8, 10 or 12 per cent? The Deputy Presiding Officer: I can give you the time back, cabinet secretary. Shona Robison: We have provided a real- terms increase to local government and we have made sure that that funding is flexible. If Craig Hoy is suggesting that there should be some unspecified additional funding for local government, he should say how much and where it is coming from. Until he does that, he will not be taken seriously on the issue.”
“Instead, we are trying to determine whether a consensus can be found so that local government taxation is as fair a system as possible. Finally, in the lead-up to the budget, our engagement made it clear that the consensus view was that it should be for individual councils to set their council tax rates without a freeze or a cap. That is what the draft budget allows for. That is a key demand from all COSLA leaders, including the Tory leader at COSLA. Is the Tory leader at COSLA wrong, Craig Hoy? The Deputy Presiding Officer: Always speak through the chair. Craig Hoy: Earlier today, I spoke with COSLA, which, of course, is SNP-led, and I do not think that the Scottish Government should be lecturing anybody else on its relations with that organisation, which are strained at the moment.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak and correct the misinformation in the Conservative motion. First, the budget improves the local government settlement with a 2 per cent real-terms increase, not a reduction, as Craig Hoy claims in his motion and as he claimed in his speech. Unless he is accusing SPICe and the Accounts Commission of being dishonest, he should correct the record at the earliest opportunity. Secondly, Craig Hoy asked for the consultation and revaluation of all homes to be removed, but there is no Government proposal for a full revaluation whatsoever. What is proposed is a targeted revaluation for properties of more than £1 million in order to introduce, in 2028, two new high- value property bands in the council tax system. Thirdly, on the on-going consultation, no specific proposal is being advocated.”
“The Deputy Presiding Officer: I call the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government to speak to and move amendment S6M-20654.2. 16:10”
“I move, That the Parliament notes with concern the ongoing consultation on council tax reform; further notes that central government funding has been reduced in real terms in this and previous Scottish Government budgets; acknowledges the cumulative pressure on households from rising council tax, the introduction of additional local charges, fees and levies, and the increasing likelihood of further council tax rises; recognises the damaging impact that funding reductions are having on frontline and statutory local authority services; expresses a lack of confidence that the current consultation will deliver fair or considered reform, given the Scottish Government’s record of underfunding local government, and calls on the Scottish Government to withdraw the consultation and rule out proceeding with the proposed council tax reforms, including the plan to conduct a revaluation of every home in Scotland for council tax purposes, at a time when households are already struggling with rising bills.”
“Taxpayers are now left wondering what will be left for Scottish councils after 19 years of austerity under the SNP. Today, in our motion, the Scottish Conservatives again stand on the side of taxpayers, on the side of councils that need a fair deal from this Government, and on the side of common sense, lower tax and better value for money. We stand against an SNP Government that is seeking to buy votes through the bloated benefits system—an SNP Government that, I am sad to say, expects Scottish workers to pay for its woeful and misplaced priorities.”
“That includes school closures, swimming pools shutting, library hours reducing and bin services being scaled back. In my own area of Dumfriesshire, the SNP-run council has consulted on a raft of deeply unpopular cuts. Those include closing small nurseries and rural schools; ending free in-school music lessons for primary and secondary pupils; removing funding for school-based police officers; shutting the Hillview leisure centre in Kelloholm; scaling back gritting and snow clearing, which will put lives at risk; and removing council funding for citizens advice services. That is the true cost of the SNP in Dumfriesshire and the true cost of an SNP Government in Edinburgh. Right across Scotland, councils have announced cuts year after year.”
“Many residents now pay for garden bins, parking charges are killing high streets and plans for a visitor levy are set to do real and lasting damage to the tourism, hospitality and leisure sectors. Congestion charges threaten our cities and the prospect of workplace charging levies remains in place. The minister will no doubt get to her feet to say that the decision on whether to introduce such new taxes will rest with democratically elected local authorities. However, in reality—this was clear when I spoke to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities at lunch time—cash-strapped councils across Scotland will feel that they have no other option but to use those powers to plug growing gaps in their finances. The threat of cuts to core services still looms large across Scotland.”
“The bands will affect elderly residents, some of whom will want to remain in their family home for as long as they can. Under the malign influence of the Scottish Greens, the politics of envy are all over the Government’s proposals. However, it is not just those households that will pay more. That is why we are calling on the Scottish Government to scrap the plans for additional rates and ditch the council tax consultation. The consultation is nothing more than a smokescreen for higher taxes on middle- income Scotland—people who have had enough of year-on-year tax rises from a Government that takes more and delivers less. As bigger bills drop through letterboxes next month, the Government is introducing more stealth taxes through the back door.”
“For a higher-rate taxpayer, more than £10,000 in pre-tax income will go to pay the price of the SNP’s persistent cash grab on councils. The Government’s own assessment shows that, under the SNP’s plans, anyone who lives in a home that is worth more than £240,000 will pay more in council tax. Regardless of what flows from the consultation on council tax, we already know that the bills for some households will soar next year. The budget includes the creation of two new bands for properties that are worth more than £1 million. Those new bands, which will be imposed on larger homes regardless of the occupants’ income, will generate about £12 million per year. It will cost £5 million to potentially bring in £12 million, which is yet another big SNP fail on the value-for-money test. Those households are sometimes asset rich but cash poor.”
“The hard reality is that, because of the SNP’s chronic underfunding, council tax bills for ordinary, hard-working Scots will go up in May. Those are people who are already reeling from the SNP’s income tax hikes, stealth taxes and the on-going cost of living crisis. Not content with having crippled Scots with more and more tax to fund more and more benefits, the SNP Government proposes to pick people’s pockets again. Despite having pledged to scrap council tax in 2007, ministers have been content to let bills soar. Under the SNP’s new plan for council tax—which, we must not forget, is a tax that is paid from post-tax income—the bills for some households could rise from £2,700 per year to a staggering £6,515 per year. Think about that figure.”
“Make no mistake, cabinet secretary— Shona Robison: Will the member give way? Craig Hoy: I will give way again. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Cabinet secretary, briefly. Shona Robison: Just to again help Craig Hoy a little, that reference was to the spending review, not to the 2026-27 budget. He needs to understand the difference between a budget and a spending review. Will Craig Hoy now acknowledge that the 2026-27 budget will provide a real-terms increase to local government? Craig Hoy: The minister stood in the Parliament during the budget statement and said that there will be a 2 per cent real-terms increase to local government, but that is simply not true. Repeating something that is dishonest time and time again does not make it true.”
“Will the member give way? Craig Hoy: I will give way to the cabinet secretary for her alternative logic. Shona Robison: They are called facts, and the facts are that, according to independent commentators, including the Accounts Commission and the Scottish Parliament information centre, there has been a real-terms increase in the budget, not just this year but in the past three budgets. Perhaps Craig Hoy should have a look at the facts instead of coming here and misrepresenting the situation. Craig Hoy: I understand that Specsavers now does hearing tests—the cabinet secretary should have gone to Specsavers, because she did not hear what the IFS said. It said: “Local government … is set to see reductions averaging 2.1 per cent a year in real-terms”. Those are the facts, as interpreted in an independent body of analysis.”
“I am committed to supporting businesses. Our budget offers more than £320 million of support through transitional relief schemes and retail, hospitality and leisure relief over the next three years—not over one year—so that they will have continuity. I hope that members will vote for the budget because, without it, no one will receive any reliefs and supports. I will end on a point that Willie Rennie made. As always, he gave a sensible, measured contribution. I am more than happy to discuss with him and any other sensible voices—there are not too many of those in the chamber this afternoon, but Willie Rennie is one of them—how we can go further to support the sector. The Deputy Presiding Officer: You need to conclude, cabinet secretary. Shona Robison: There are choices to be made. I am happy to have further engagement. 15:54”
“We have already gone some way towards doing that with the 15 per cent RHL reliefs. The transitional relief is a substantial package; all in all, it is £320 million as part of an £864 million package. I do not believe that delaying revaluation is the answer because, first and foremost, it would be unfair on the 40,000 properties that are expected to see a decrease in their rateable value. Delaying would essentially push the problem down the road. There will always be winners and losers in a revaluation. However, the relief package that we are putting in place will help the businesses that are most impacted to smooth out the additional costs after the independent assessors’ review. Those changes were supported by Murdo Fraser, Mr Simpson, Mr Burnett and many others across the chamber when we debated the Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Bill.”
“The other point that I want to make is about some of the comparisons that have been made between north and south of the border. The average increase for pubs is 30 per cent in England, 47 per cent in Northern Ireland and 15 per cent in Scotland. There are markedly different average increases for pubs across these islands. That is not to diminish the impact, but that is why we are putting the relief package in place. Craig Hoy: If the Scottish Government is providing such a generous package of support for Scotland’s pubs, why is Sir Tom Hunter recommending to publicans across Scotland that they bar Scottish ministers from their premises? Shona Robison: I am sure that Tom Hunter will welcome the additional support that we will put into place to support the sector. It is important that we address the concerns that have been raised.”
“The 15 per cent RHL relief that we have put into place is for properties up to a value of £100,000. The package of £130 million in transitional relief is in addition to the RHL relief package as part of the £320 million of support. I want to correct a couple of other things that have been said. In 2025, the number of businesses in accommodation and food services—in other words, the hospitality sector— in Scotland increased, rather than decreased, in the year to quarter 3. That is not to diminish any of the issues that have been raised, because we know that there are issues. That is why we have put in place £320 million as part of the wider package of £864 million in support. Craig Hoy: Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention? Shona Robison: I will in a second.”
“I start by reiterating the commitment that I have made previously to pass on in full any consequentials following the chancellor’s announcement on relief to pubs and music venues in England in order to provide further support to businesses in Scotland. Clearly, there are choices about how that is done. The Minister for Public Finance met the non- domestic rates consultative group immediately after the budget was published in January and will meet the group again tomorrow. I am sure that members will understand that there may be differing views about where the additional support should go, and it is important that we hear the views of those who are directly affected. I will come back to a couple of points that have been made in the debate. First, I want to correct something that Daniel Johnson said.”
“The £235 million that local government has received for the 2026-27 budget—absolutely every penny of it—would go, and there would be not a single penny of extra funding for Aberdeenshire Council. Alexander Burnett should be honest with his constituents about that. If Alexander Burnett disagrees with the distribution formula, which has to be agreed with 32 local authorities and COSLA, I am sure that they would be very open to any suggestions that might be made. Any change would of course require the agreement of the 32 local authorities, but I am sure that they would be very keen to hear any constructive proposals that Alexander Burnett would like to put forward.”
“We have more than 3,000 miles of road to be maintained and more than 1,800 bridges—more per capita than anywhere else in Scotland. When cuts are implemented, rural areas suffer more. Bin collections are cancelled, public transport comes to a halt and grit bins are not where they need to be. The result is that residents in some parts of the shire pay the same council tax as those in larger towns—and, indeed, in other parts of Scotland—but receive noticeably less in return. Does the cabinet secretary recognise that her underfunding of councils has created a postcode lottery in public services in Scotland? Shona Robison: Alexander Burnett should be honest with his constituents that proposing £1 billion of unfunded, unaffordable tax cuts would wipe out any increase to the local government settlement.”
“Rurality is a key element of the needs-based distribution formula that is discussed and agreed with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on behalf of all 32 local authorities each year. The Scottish Government and COSLA keep the distribution formula, including rurality indicators, under constant review through the joint settlement and distribution group to ensure that it targets funding towards those with the most need. Alexander Burnett: Aberdeenshire Council is the lowest-funded rural council in Scotland, and its public services are among the most expensive to deliver across miles of coast and glen. Years of penny-pinching Scottish National Party budgets and eye-watering cuts mean that there are no real savings left to be had.”
“The overall benefit in terms of the savings to families attending will be shaped by the numbers attending, but it would be equivalent to an hour’s additional childcare. We anticipate that that additional flexibility will support employment opportunities, whether in new positions or in enabling parents to take on additional hours. Local Government Payroll (Discussions with COSLA) 3.”
“The enhanced cost of living support included in the Scottish budget means that people in Scotland will continue to benefit from the most generous cost of living package anywhere in the UK. The delivery of a new universal breakfast club offer for primary school-age children will be of significant benefit to many of my constituents. Can the cabinet secretary provide any further information about how many children in Scotland are anticipated to benefit from the measure, and can she also advise how much that is anticipated to save families per week? Shona Robison: The Scottish Government’s investment will ensure that, from 2027-28, breakfast clubs will be free and universally accessible for all primary school children in Scotland.”
“The Scottish budget sets out a range of support that will benefit families right across Scotland. That includes continuing to invest in the provision of 1,140 hours of funded childcare, which would otherwise cost families £6,000 a year; setting out plans to go further by delivering a universal breakfast club offer for primary school-age children; and investing an additional £2.5 million each year to increase wraparound after-school clubs for families. That support is in addition to wider action to tackle the cost of living, including through investment in our warmer homes Scotland scheme, free school meals and the game-changing Scottish child payment. Jackie Dunbar: I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer.”
“If Neil Bibby believes that there should be more money for local government, he can propose that on behalf of his party in the stages of the budget bill—but he will then, of course, have to say where that money has to come from. If he wants to come and see me and propose where that money should come from, my door is always open.”
“Does the cabinet secretary agree with her SNP colleagues, or is she saying that Councillor Bell and Mr Gibson are wrong? Shona Robison: Councillor Ricky Bell and COSLA have a job to do on behalf of local government, and I totally respect that. However, independent commentators, including the Scottish Parliament information centre, which informs MSPs in this Parliament—whether they heed its advice is another matter—confirm that there is a real-terms increase in funding to local government. As recently as 16 January, SPICe confirmed that the past three Scottish budgets all included real- terms increases for the local government revenue settlement; the Accounts Commission has also confirmed that.”
“The Scottish Government met the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on 14 January for formal post-budget engagement and continues to meet COSLA and individual local authorities regularly to cover a range of topics, including the 2026-27 budget. Neil Bibby: Cuts to councils are cuts to schools, to care services and to street cleaning. However, members should not take my word for it: senior Scottish National Party councillor Ricky Bell has warned that the SNP Government’s proposed real- terms cuts to council budgets will result in “reductions in services and jobs.” The convener of the Finance and Public Administration Committee, who is also a senior member of the cabinet secretary’s party, has called local government the “poor relation” of the budget.”
“Shona Robison: I do not think that there has ever been a budget that COSLA has not taken some issue with. That is its role on behalf of local government. It asked for £750 million for adult social care in a single year. That would have been more than the resource consequentials for the entire spending review. The quantum that COSLA would have liked just did not exist. However, we have given COSLA the flexibility of nearly £235 million in the general revenue grant and we have baselined hundreds of millions of pounds more in funding. It is a real-terms increase, as confirmed by commentators that include the Scottish Parliament information centre and the Accounts Commission. Draft Budget 2026-27 (Discussions with COSLA) 5.”
“Independent commentators agree that the local government settlement has increased in real terms. The budget reality analysis by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities acknowledges that there is an additional £234.9 million of uncommitted core revenue funding for councils. The budget also provides a further £773 million of funding consolidation and multiyear envelopes to support forward planning. Mark Griffin: It was not an independent commentator but COSLA’s resource spokesperson—Scottish National Party councillor Ricky Bell—who said that “Leaders agreed that this year’s settlement is a very poor settlement for local government”. If the Scottish Government cannot convince SNP leaders and councillors that the budget is good for councils and communities, why should the public believe it?”
“The constrained capital position is exactly why we are considering revenue finance options, including all the procurement options that are being looked at for the A96. We will continue to do that to ensure that we can invest in our infrastructure, because we know how important that is to growing our economy. The Presiding Officer: That concludes general question time. First Minister’s Question Time 12:00 Queen Elizabeth University Hospital 1.”
“Surely the cabinet secretary must agree that, if we are to see Inverness and Aberdeen connected, to allow those powerhouses for renewables to achieve what they can achieve, they must have dual carriageway links, as must the south of Scotland with regard to the A1 and the A77. How on earth will we achieve all those things unless we change our priorities and find different ways to raise capital for these vital projects? Shona Robison: Of course, Fergus Ewing will be aware that capital funding is constrained. As well as the roads programme, there is the housing investment of £4.9 billion, £4.1 billion of which is public capital money. I assume that Fergus Ewing would support the investment in housing as well as the investment in roads.”
“Scotland remains a highly competitive location for inward investment, consistently delivering jobs and economic benefit. EY data shows that, in 2024, Scotland was the United Kingdom’s leading destination outside London for inward investment for the 10th consecutive year and is ranked sixth among the top 10 destinations in Europe for foreign direct investment. We will continue our work with the Scottish Futures Trust to explore revenue funding options for infrastructure investment. This aims to unlock additional private investment while ensuring value for money for the public purse. Fergus Ewing: An analysis of the capital budget for both this year and next shows that the amount that is devoted to trunk roads is 8 per cent. In fact, only half of that relates to improvement as opposed to maintenance and adaptation. That is a paltry amount.”
“However, the issue is that they will have to tell us where the money is to come from and how it will be delivered.”
“Shona Robison: The key fact is that all commentators agree that the local government settlement is increasing in real terms. There is a 2 per cent real-terms increase compared with the 2025-26 local government settlement—that is all set out in the budget. The point that I would make to Jamie Halcro Johnston is that, if there were to be £1 billion of unaffordable tax cuts, there would not be a single penny of extra money for local government; instead, there would be a deep cut in local government funding. I have produced a draft budget, so, if Jamie Halcro Johnston and his colleagues want to suggest a change to it at the next two stages of the Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill in order to give more money to local government, they can do so.”
“Jamie Halcro Johnston: This budget fails to deliver and is “a very poor settlement for local government which fails to address the dire financial situation of local government.” Those are not my words but those of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities resource spokesman and Scottish National Party councillor Ricky Bell, in a letter to Shona Robison. In that letter, Ricky Bell highlighted council leaders’ concerns about the continued deprioritisation of local government and a further real-terms cut in funding over the coming years. I will therefore ask again if, as a result of the latest SNP budget—a budget that fails to deliver—my constituents in Orkney, Shetland, the Western Isles, the Highlands, Moray and Argyll and Bute should expect council tax increases, cuts to their public services or a painful mixture of both?”
“The draft Scottish budget provides a real-terms increase in the local government settlement, taking it to almost £15.7 billion in 2026-27. Councils have autonomy in how to utilise the vast majority of that funding, which includes £253 million of fully flexible new money, alongside all locally raised income, to respond to local priorities. That should ensure that councils are able to exercise restraint in setting council tax rates, minimising the impact on local people and on household finances.”
“This year, for the first time, we have complemented it with a fiscal sustainability delivery plan that sets out our approach to managing longer-term pressures.”
“I thank the parliamentary committees and their clerks for the important work that they have undertaken in relation to pre-budget scrutiny. The Government is committed to building broad support across the chamber, and I view the role of pre-budget scrutiny by parliamentary committees as a vital step in that process. Fiscal sustainability is essential to delivering the Government’s four priorities—eradicating child poverty, growing the economy, tackling the climate emergency and ensuring high-quality sustainable public services. A sustainable fiscal position relies on having a clear view of the medium term, and not only the decisions that are taken each year. The medium- term financial strategy sets out the multiyear fiscal outlook and associated risks.”
“Amendment 41 disagreed to. Amendment 42 moved—[Stephen Kerr]. The Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 42 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division. Members should cast their votes now. The vote is closed.”
“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) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (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) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) 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) 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) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) 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) 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) 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) 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) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) 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) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (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) [Proxy vote cast by Jackie Dunbar] Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 47, Against 72, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 40 disagreed to. Amendment 41 moved—[Stephen Kerr]. The Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 41 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division. Members should cast their votes now. The vote is closed. Shona Robison: On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I am still working on my connection. I would have voted no. The Presiding Officer: Thank you, Ms Robison. We will ensure that that is recorded.”
“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) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (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) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) 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) 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) [Proxy vote cast by Jackie Dunbar] Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 47, Against 73, Abstentions 0.”