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?”
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“In contrast, Ross Greer made a constructive contribution, and I agree with many of the things that he had to say. We disagree on some things, but it is about working collaboratively on the things that we agree on. I would also say that about Alex Cole-Hamilton. There are many areas on which he and his colleagues have taken a pragmatic approach to working with us in order to make progress—the budget is an example of that—and I welcome that. However, on his comment about the attainment gap, I point out that we have record levels of literacy and numeracy attainment for both primary and secondary pupils, and we have a record-low attainment gap in literacy for primary schools. Yes, there is more to do, but we have to recognise where progress has been made. Clare Haughey set out well the UK Labour Government’s woeful record.”
“That is all that the Tories have, and their approach will continue to be roundly rejected by the population of our nation. Anas Sarwar, despite the hubris, cannot escape the simple truth that he failed to support more funding for the NHS, more funding to tackle child poverty and more funding to tackle the housing emergency. It is all talk and no action from him, as usual. If he wants to talk about what is “knackered”, he has only to look at his knackered Prime Minister and his knackered UK Labour Government, which, after one year in power, is plummeting in the polls and running scared of Reform UK. If he wants to use the word “knackered” from his focus groups, we are very happy to talk about what is knackered: his Government and his Prime Minister.”
“Murdo Fraser is out of touch with the Scottish people. They care deeply about the plight of people in Gaza and they expect their nation’s Parliament to care, too. Their compassion is in stark contrast to the lack of compassion of those Tory members from whom we have heard today. I welcome everyone back to Parliament—it is a more plural Parliament than the one that we had in June. I, too, welcome Ruth Maguire back to the chamber; it is good to see her here. [Applause.] I will start with Russell Findlay’s miserable contribution, which I suspect reflects the rather miserable summer that he and his colleagues have had. Russell Findlay’s narrative is really not working for him or for his party. It is entirely negative, as others have pointed out, and is based on the simple objective of talking down Scotland.”
“I am very glad that the First Minister listened to the Scottish Conservatives last December when they called for the end of peak rail fares. That was very good of him. However, he should also stop hammering households and businesses with additional tax and additional red tape. The Parliament must face up to the fact that the public agree on one thing: this place is not working for them. We are all elected to serve the interests of the public. In the short time before the next election, it is time that we started to do so. My party is the only one that is willing to stand up and admit to our mistakes, say plainly what we need to do better—[Interruption.]”
“The First Minister: Let me give Mr Findlay a flavour of some of the practical things that the Government is doing to help people with the cost of living challenges that they face. Council tax bills are generally 30 per cent lower and water bills 20 per cent lower than those south of the border. Yesterday, we abolished peak rail fares, which will halve the cost of rail journeys for the average commuter between Edinburgh and Glasgow every single day. Mr Findlay mentioned small businesses in Perth. Many small businesses in Perth will benefit from the small business bonus scheme that this Government voted for in the budget, but which Mr Findlay never voted for in the budget. That is just a flavour of what the Government is doing to protect people’s incomes. Russell Findlay: That was a bit of a long intervention.”
“I became a politician to get things done and to try to make a difference to people’s lives, but if we asked the average person what Holyrood has done to help them in the past four years, I do not think that we would get a positive answer. We should pose that question to small business owners in Perth or Peebles who are struggling to stay afloat; to high-street workers in Dumfriesshire or Ayrshire who are trying to get a mortgage; to families in Glasgow and Edinburgh who work around the clock to make ends meet while others stay idle only to get things handed to them on a plate; to oil and gas workers in the north-east, where I was this morning, and those at Grangemouth who think that this Government would rather that they lost their jobs; and to young people leaving school across Scotland who despair at the lack of opportunity.”
“Does Russell Findlay think that this line of argument keeps both his MSPs and the population voting for him, given that he is at record low levels at the moment? Do you think that this is working for you and for your party? The Deputy Presiding Officer: Always speak through the chair. Russell Findlay: Let us talk about this Parliament and what it can do—or, rather, what it is not doing because of this Government. It does not look at the interests of those who are aspirational or ambitious, nor at the priorities of workers and businesses, nor at the priorities of— frankly—anyone in mainstream Scotland who just wants politicians to show some basic common sense. Since becoming an MSP in 2021, I have been struck by how disconnected this place is from the real world.”
“Amendment 245 agreed to. Section 39—Report on performance of the Scottish education system Amendment 50 not moved. 18:15 Amendment 51 moved—[Stephen Kerr]—and agreed to. Amendment 52 moved—[Stephen Kerr]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 52 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division. The vote is closed.”
“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) Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (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) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) 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) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) 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) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) 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) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Rona Mackay] 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) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab) 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) 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) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) Against Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Con) 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) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (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) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 87, Against 24, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 244 agreed to. Amendment 245 moved—[Ross Greer]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 245 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“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) Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (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) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) 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) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) 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) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) 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) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Rona Mackay] 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) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (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) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab) 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) 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) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) Against 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) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East 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) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 90, Against 23, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 48 disagreed to. Amendment 49 not moved. Amendment 244 moved—[Ross Greer]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 244 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division. The vote is closed. Gordon MacDonald: On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I still cannot connect. It would be yes. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr MacDonald. Your vote will be recorded.”
“For Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Con) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) 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) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (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) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (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) Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (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) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) 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) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) 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) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) 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) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Rona Mackay] 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) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (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) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab) 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) 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) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 26, Against 88, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 243 agreed to. Section 38—Annual report Amendment 48 moved—[Stephen Kerr]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 48 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division. The vote is closed. Gordon MacDonald: On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I still cannot connect. It would be a no. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr MacDonald. Your vote will be recorded.”
“For 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) Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (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) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) 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) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) 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) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) 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) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Rona Mackay] 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) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (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) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab) 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) 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) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Con) 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) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (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) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 86, Against 27, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 47 disagreed to. Amendment 243 moved—[Ross Greer]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 243 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division. Members should cast their vote now. The vote is closed. Gordon MacDonald: On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I still cannot connect. I would have voted yes. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr MacDonald. 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) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) 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) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (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) Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (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) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (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) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) 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) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Rona Mackay] 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) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (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) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab) 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) 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) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 25, Against 87, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 242 agreed to. Amendment 47 moved—[Stephen Kerr]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 47 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division. Members should cast their vote now. The vote is closed. Gordon MacDonald: On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Again, I could not connect. I would have voted no. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr MacDonald. Your vote will be recorded.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I could not connect. I would have voted yes. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, cabinet secretary. That will be 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) Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (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) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) 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) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) 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) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) 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) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Rona Mackay] 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) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (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) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab) 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) 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) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) Against 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) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (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) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 87, Against 24, Abstentions 0.”
“Fiscal sustainability is about more than balancing the books: it is about delivering value, driving reform and making strategic choices that support long-term growth. By focusing on efficient public spending, modernising services, growing our economy and taking a strategic approach to tax, we can build a stronger, fairer Scotland. Meeting the challenges that face our public finances will require a collaborative effort across the public sector and beyond any single parliamentary year. Our strategy and action plan set out a clear path. I invite my colleagues across the chamber to work with me to deliver them and to ensure that our public finances stay on a sustainable footing.”
“Scottish income tax is forecast to raise a record £20.5 billion in 2025-26, with the latest SFC forecast showing a positive contribution to the 2025-26 Scottish budget of £616 million, with the total tax net position to be £2.3 billion by 2029-30. Our delivery plan sets out further the range of actions to improve the operation and performance of the existing tax system. For example, we are implementing new devolved taxes, including the Scottish aggregates tax in 2026 and the building safety levy in 2027, and we continue to work in partnership with local government to ensure that local taxes are fair and sustainable. We will also take forward work on considering future reform to the tax system, including through developing our thinking on longer-term issues such as wealth taxation.”
“Our overarching economic strategy sets out our vision for a fair, green and growing economy, and we are prioritising the delivery of the actions that are outlined in our programme for Government to deliver growth that will help people to enjoy more prosperous lives now and in the long term, and protect the public services that we all rely on. The third pillar of our approach focuses on delivering a strategic approach to tax policy decisions. Despite limited tax powers, we have taken bold, necessary action in recent years to ensure that our vital public services are prioritised. Our decisions on income tax since devolution are helping to protect investment in public services.”
“Our plan for increasing Scotland’s economic activity centres on creating a dynamic and flexible business environment, improving skills provision and supporting people to secure higher paying jobs, creating opportunity for people to enter or take on more or better work, attracting investment, and promoting entrepreneurship in the industries of tomorrow. However, the levers that are available to us to stimulate economic growth are limited. For example, the UK Government’s current approach to immigration harms Scotland by failing to address our demographic and economic needs, thus exacerbating labour supply issues. Despite those constraints, this Government will continue to take action and make the most of Scotland’s strengths and opportunities to boost our long-term economic prospects.”
“Through the actions to maximise value from public spending and drive efficiency and reform that are presented in today’s delivery plan, we expect to generate total cashable savings of £2.6 billion by 2029-30. That equates to 4.4 per cent of the forecasted resource budget for that year. Growing the economy is a top priority for the Government. By boosting business activity, driving wage growth and creating employment opportunities for more people, we can broaden the tax base, alleviate pressure on public finances and generate income tax revenue to support fiscal sustainability in the medium to long term. That is the focus for the second pillar of our strategy.”
“As part of the third pillar, we will drive forward service reform to improve the way in which we deliver services. We must integrate support and empower the front line to bring together all the resources that people and families need to thrive. Lastly, we will focus on prevention, investing in the most impactful preventative spend to reduce demand on services in the medium to long-term. In order to improve lives, we will deliver the technical and cultural change that is needed to go further in tackling the root causes of poor outcomes. For example, through the “Best Start, Bright Futures” breakfast club delivery plan, we will continue to drive forward cross-Government action on eradicating child poverty.”
“By taking that action, we will protect valuable front-line services and continue to offer a progressive pay policy that recognises that our public sector workforce is our most valuable asset. We will focus on how to process and deliver benefits with dignity, fairness and respect, while driving important efficiency savings and ensuring that people access the support they are entitled to. We will continue our targeted programme of efficiency and productivity improvement within the national health service. We will seize the opportunities that are presented by the rise of innovation, digital and advances in treatment. We will commit to working with NHS boards and staff, ensuring that the use of core resource is optimised and that best value is secured across NHS Scotland.”
“We will focus on business improvement to drive down the cost of service delivery, not only in corporate functions but across the whole system—as was set out last week by the Minister for Public Finance—while protecting outcomes. Business improvement will include the sharing of services and estates across our public bodies and the driving of efficiencies from collaborative procurement across the public sector. We will set a managed reduction target for the public sector workforce to reduce staffing levels by an average of 0.5 per cent per year until 2030. That will be achieved through reforms to our public services, as has been set out in our public service reform strategy, through natural attrition and recruitment controls.”
“That shift is critical to and underpins the first pillar of our strategic approach, which is to continue to increase value for the public purse, maximising the impact that we achieve through our investment. That is why, alongside the budget in December, I will publish a multiyear Scottish spending review and an infrastructure pipeline that will set out affordable and sustainable investment plans for the years ahead. A framework for that spending review is being published in the MTFS today. As part of the second pillar, we will deliver efficiencies. That means improving productivity and making the most of every pound of public money that is spent on delivery.”
“We require to take similar actions as, without our doing so, the forecast gap between funding and spending in Scotland could reach £2.6 billion for resource and £2.1 billion for capital by the financial year of 2029-30. Managing the impact of Westminster austerity is all too familiar but, in spite of that, we continue to invest in the people of Scotland by supporting a better paid public sector, delivering high quality public services, and providing welfare support that is not available in other parts of the UK. We have done so while delivering a balanced budget every single year since 2007. We will reform and reshape our public services, using technology to embrace and drive forward new ways of working.”
“On capital, construction price inflation, which has been turbocharged by Brexit, continues to drive up prices, while the necessity to maintain and invest in new assets remains. To ensure that public services are there to meet the needs of the people, we are introducing our reform and savings plans. The UK Government is taking similar action. Indeed, the chancellor has set out the approach to achieving fiscal sustainability for the UK, with all departments to deliver at least 5 per cent savings and efficiencies by 2028-29. Within that, there are reductions in administration budgets of at least 11 per cent by 2028-29 and 16 per cent by 2029-30 in real terms.”
“Given the situation that is developing in Westminster today, how exactly the UK Government will deliver its intended changes remains to be seen but, for the purposes of today’s publications, I will be using the numbers that the Treasury gave us at the UK spring statement. For Scotland, funding from the UK Government for day-to-day spending is only expected to grow by 0.8 per cent in real terms in the next three years, compared with a 1.2 per cent average growth for UK Government departments. Scotland’s capital block grant will be 1.1 per cent lower in real terms by the end of the UK spending review period. Those allocations simply do not reflect the unavoidable realities of the demands that will be placed on public services by the demographic challenges that we face, not least through an ageing population.”
“For example, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has again failed to provide full funding for the additional costs of employer national insurance contributions, leaving public services in Scotland to face a £400 million shortfall. Furthermore, had the resource funding that is provided to the Scottish Government for day-to-day priorities matched the average increase for UK departments in the UK spending review, we would have £1.1 billion more to spend in the next three years. Last week, the UK Government set out proposals that will deliver deep cuts to disabled people’s support, which will push more people into poverty, with a real-life negative funding impact in Scotland of £440 million by 2029-30, based on the Office for Budget Responsibility’s estimates.”
“Today, I am publishing two documents that broadly set out how public finances will be managed in the next five years—the Scottish Government’s seventh medium-term financial strategy and our first fiscal sustainability delivery plan. Today, the Scottish Fiscal Commission is also publishing an update to its independent forecasts, which underpin the strategy and delivery plan. I thank Professor Graeme Roy and the Scottish Fiscal Commission for their flexibility in working with us. With the world facing profound economic uncertainty, this MTFS is being presented in deeply challenging circumstances. Those challenges have been exacerbated by the actions of the United Kingdom Government, whose decisions continue to have serious consequences for the delivery of our public services.”
“Did I mishear? I thought that I had just heard Pam Duncan-Glancy talk about making good law today. She and her party are voting against the bill, are they not? Pam Duncan-Glancy: I thank the cabinet secretary—”
“I appreciate that some individuals are seeking to make an intervention, which is perfectly laudable, but others are shouting from a sedentary position, which is not acceptable and will not happen, not least because I will have to keep interrupting, which will shorten the debating time of members who are further down the list in the debate. Shona Robison: Their position is not credible and the public knows that it is not credible, which is why the Tories have such low support among the public.”
“The investment that we are making this year in our public services is made possible by the tax choices that we have made and the vital additional funding that they provide. The Tories and, indeed, other Opposition members need to explain to the Parliament what they would cut if we had not taken those tax decisions, but instead, we hear demands for further spending and, at the same time, cuts to taxation—[Interruption.] The Deputy Presiding Officer: Cabinet secretary, please resume your seat. I will set some parameters here.”
“Of course, we will highlight a number of issues that we want to see resolved and on which we want more information. As I said in an earlier answer, the headline from today is a modest average real-terms growth rate in day-to-day spending of 0.8 per cent per year, which is lower than the average for UK departments. One concerning aspect is the continuation of the use of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 to deliver funding that should be routed through devolved Governments. That is one of the issues that I will raise with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury at the FISC meeting at the end of June. The Deputy Presiding Officer: That concludes portfolio questions on finance and local government. There will be a very short pause before we move to the next item of business to allow front-bench teams to change over.”
“Stuart McMillan: Although it is too early to provide a full analysis of the chancellor’s announcement today, and although some it is positive, the spending review has reaffirmed that Labour’s priorities are to slash support for disabled people and to double down on the jobs tax, which is already increasing unemployment. Can the cabinet secretary provide details of any engagements that she plans to have with the chancellor to highlight the ways in which today’s spending review lacks ambition to help many people and households in my Greenock and Inverclyde constituency and Scotland as a whole? Shona Robison: The next opportunity to engage will be at the meeting of the finance interministerial standing committee, which involves all finance ministers and which will take place at the end of this month.”
“We were optimistic that the spending review would deliver a reset of the relationship with the UK Government that was promised by Labour, but we have had very limited opportunities to engage with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. That is symptomatic of a wider approach by UK ministers. We made extensive representations on our priorities for the spending review, and although some aspects of the spending review are to be welcomed, we have seen only limited progress. That comes on top of the UK Government’s failure to fully fund the employer national insurance increase, and the concerning welfare reforms.”
“What discussions have she and her ministerial colleagues had with Ferguson Marine to ensure that Scottish taxpayers are not, again, placed on the hook to deliver the vessel? Shona Robison: As the Deputy First Minister has said, the news of the further delay and increased cost to deliver MV Glen Rosa is “unacceptable” and deeply frustrating. Our island communities rely on a resilient and reliable ferry service, and they deserve better. We have made it clear—the Deputy First Minister has made it very clear directly to Ferguson Marine—that the situation cannot continue and that strong leadership and urgent delivery are now non- negotiable. That could not be clearer.”
“I meet ministerial colleagues regularly in relation to budgetary matters, including the Deputy First Minister on the recently announced additional funding needs related to MV Glen Rosa. I will continue to work closely with the Deputy First Minister to support the funding of that new ferry. Sue Webber: Ferguson Marine has stated that it needs an additional £35 million to complete the late and massively over-budget MV Glen Rosa, the total cost of which is now estimated to be a staggering £185 million—nearly four times the original contract price. Will the cabinet secretary guarantee that that will be the final payment that taxpayers will have to make to complete the vessel?”
“Shona Robison: On the first point, I note that we as a Government regularly point out the deficit in our decision-making levers, not least in relation to our ability to respond to the headwinds that we have faced over recent years, which have made the lack of flexibility in the fiscal framework very stark, indeed. Again, we have laid out on a number of occasions what we want to see in the sphere of additional levers and powers short of independence, and we have asked for a more fundamental root-and-branch review of the fiscal framework. We will continue to push for that over the coming months.”
“Today, the cabinet secretary has reiterated the Scottish Government’s desire for ministers here to have full fiscal autonomy, in recognition of the fact that a fiscal framework that imposes drastic cuts in the Scottish budget at the whim of Westminster is not in our interests. It is no secret that I believe that Scotland’s economy would be best served if Scotland were an independent country, but, as the Scottish Government does not see achieving independence as an urgent priority, what specific funding mechanism does the Scottish Government want to be implemented now to replace the Barnett formula? What new powers does it envisage would require to be transferred to the Scottish Parliament as a result?”
“This Government is clear that Scotland would be best served by having full control over its finances as an independent country. We have seen today how the funding available for the Scottish budget continues to be dominated by decisions that are made at Westminster. Although the Barnett formula ensures that we receive a population- based share of funding for devolved responsibilities, we can still be left short-changed, as we have seen with the totally inadequate level of funding that has been provided for employer national insurance contributions. I would, of course, welcome discussion with the UK Government on what further economic and fiscal powers this Parliament should have. Ash Regan: Senior UK politicians are threatening to scrap the Barnett formula.”
““Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland” Statistics 2024-25 4.”
“On the issue of how the funding formulas take account of rurality, the first thing to note is that those decisions are made by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, and it is difficult to change formulas that the 32 local authorities have agreed among themselves. I have some sympathy with those who question whether issues such as rurality and deprivation are adequately covered by the formulas that COSLA has agreed with the 32 local authorities, but it would be very unwise of me to try to overrule something that has been collectively agreed by the 32 local authorities. We will continue to discuss with COSLA the best way to ensure that all local authorities in all parts of Scotland get a fair settlement, but that decision is primarily one that is made by the 32 local authorities.”
“Aberdeenshire has one of the largest school pupil populations outside of the central belt and many pupils travel long distances each day to reach their catchment school—yet the council receives the fourth-lowest level of funding per head, which leaves nothing for bus budgets. That affects rural pupils as well as bus contracts for disabled passengers. Can the cabinet secretary explain how future education budgets will consider rurality when setting funding allocations? Shona Robison: In its reports over the past three years, the Accounts Commission has confirmed that there has been a real-terms funding increase for local government—there has not been a reduction in council funding but, rather, a real- terms increase in council funding.”
“The 2025-26 budget provides local government in Scotland with record funding of more than £15.1 billion. As a result of the Scottish budget, Aberdeenshire Council received a record funding settlement worth £627.7 million to support day-to-day services. How that record funding is deployed to deliver local services, statutory duties and nationally agreed priorities is a matter for locally elected members. I recognise that no part of the public sector is immune from difficult decisions as a result of the many years of austerity from successive United Kingdom Governments. Alexander Burnett: Since 2014, the Scottish Government’s budget has increased by 45 per cent in real terms. In stark contrast, local government funding has decreased by about 1 per cent over the same period.”
“It has an impact on democracy and, more crucially, on getting the right people and a broad range of people to enter politics, in order to represent everyone in our communities. The Verity house agreement helps to set out the way in which we work together—how we approach our shared priorities and how we engage with each other in a positive manner, based on mutual trust and respect. That should be the standard across all areas of democratic life. It is something on which we, as members of the political parties, need to work together. Otherwise, there will be a reduction in the number of people, and women in particular, coming forward to serve in public life, and that will not benefit anyone. Aberdeenshire Council (Budget Settlement 2025-26) 3.”
“The tragic and barbarous murders of Jo Cox MP and David Amess MP as they went about their daily duties shook all of us to the core. Does the cabinet secretary agree that the growing abuse and intimidation of elected representatives is a direct threat to democracy? Many elected representatives are standing down from their roles because they are not prepared to tolerate such abuse—which also actively deters people, especially those from underrepresented groups, from entering politics in the first place. Does the cabinet secretary also agree that the work initiated by COSLA should be supported by all of us to ensure that elected members can conduct their duties free from violence, threats and abuse? Shona Robison: I absolutely agree with Ms Whitham. The issue should concern all of us across the chamber.”