John Swinney
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“Since the report from several years ago was published, the Government has presided over the passage of legislation to rationalise that area of activity. Work is under way to transfer the responsibility for the funding of further education student support from the Scottish Funding Council to the Student Awards Agency Scotland.”
“I appreciate the urgency of the general policy elements of the question, because a number of applications are now being considered by planning authorities. My view is that, given the concerns that have been expressed by planning authorities, the Government has to be responsive to the issue.”
“For as long as we do not have a proper strategy on prison capacity, rehabilitation and clearing the court backlog, early release will be a revolving door, with people going in, coming out and going back into our prisons. Our justice system is in crisis, so we need a strategy.”
“I associate myself unreservedly Mr Cole-Hamilton’s comments about the feelings in the Muslim community. On Monday, I visited the Broomhouse mosque along with Simita Kumar and the Annandale Street mosque in Edinburgh with Ben Macpherson.”
“The development of further guidance will be undertaken in a manner consistent with the ruling by Lady Ross. Malcolm Offord: I thank the First Minister for his answer, which was more comprehensive than I expected.”
“I am a huge supporter of apprenticeship programmes. With foundation apprenticeships and graduate apprenticeships, the Government has brought forward important reforms that create new and successful pathways for young people. I am determined to make sure that every young person has that desirable pathway for their future.”
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“Frankly, you could not make that up. Is it part of John Swinney’s cunning plan? Does the First Minister agree with me that the “No comment” saga must be part of the forthcoming inquiry into Murrellgate? The Presiding Officer: First Minister, do you want to have a go at that? The First Minister: Until now, the only person who has ever accused me of being long-winded is my 15-year-old son, who regularly tells me to shorten my answers in Parliament. In the interest of currying favour with the Presiding Officer, I will keep this answer short. Mr Offord’s contribution—”
“The development of further guidance will be undertaken in a manner consistent with the ruling by Lady Ross. Malcolm Offord: I thank the First Minister for his answer, which was more comprehensive than I expected. I was dreading him coming back with a long-winded, “No comment,” which begs the question of whether saying, “No comment,” is ever an acceptable response to a sequence of serious questions. He will be aware that all that illegal gender policy was implemented by his predecessor, Ms No Comment, who has now fled to London in search of fame, fortune and lower taxes. Is it true that the second edition of Ms Sturgeon’s memoir will be entitled “Frankly, I Don’t Give a Damn”? Meanwhile, we have heard that Ms No Comment is to star in a TV show playing the role of the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.”
“I lead a Government that believes in and follows the rule of law. So, when issues are of a legally contested nature, we do the proper thing, which is to allow the legally contested debate to take place and then, at the conclusion of that debate, to follow the legal ruling. Lady Ross’s ruling is crystal clear. It has already been implemented in full in relation to the Scottish Prison Service, and the necessary amendments to custody have taken place. I do not intend to talk about individual cases, because it is inappropriate for me to do that. In relation to the circulation of guidance materials, those must be compatible with the law as it stands, and that is exactly why the Scottish Prison Service withdrew its guidance at the earliest opportunity.”
“I am afraid that I am not quite up to speed with the deployment of the spokespeople in Mr Sarwar’s team, but I am very happy for Ms McAllan, who is Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic, and Stephen Flynn, who is Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport, to meet their counterparts in the Labour Party to see how we can take forward that series of ideas, because, as Mr Sarwar will not be surprised to hear, I am interested in delivering for the people of Scotland. The Scottish Government is hearing that loud and clear from the First Minister, and I am delighted to repeat it in the Parliament today. Transgender Prisoners (Legal Ruling) 5.”
“The First Minister: This is one of the issues that I had in mind, in becoming First Minister after the election, when I said that there was an opportunity for us to make progress across the parliamentary chamber. A lot of the points that Mr Sarwar has made today about ideas, and his suggestions, are completely reasonable. We should embark on conversations about how we can take things forward. As Mr Sarwar knows—I have rehearsed it frequently in the Parliament—the Government does not have a majority. We need wider parliamentary support for our programme. I am delighted that, on such a number of occasions, we are attracting support from other parties for the propositions that we are putting to the Parliament. This is one area in which we can do exactly that.”
“That money could be spent on funding new apprenticeships for key sectors and on creating a clearing system for colleges and apprenticeships to help young people to find opportunities. In what is armed forces week, it could be used to match the United Kingdom Labour Government’s commitment to fund and create two defence technical excellence colleges in Scotland. The First Minister could make those commitments right now. We need to get serious about delivering a modern skills system that meets the needs of Scotland’s young people. Will the SNP Government not hide behind process but, instead, focus on delivery? It is time that we had a Government that matched young people’s ambition with some ambition of its own.”
“I am a huge supporter of apprenticeship programmes. With foundation apprenticeships and graduate apprenticeships, the Government has brought forward important reforms that create new and successful pathways for young people. I am determined to make sure that every young person has that desirable pathway for their future. Anas Sarwar: The measure of success is whether young people get the opportunities that they deserve and whether our businesses and the economy have the skills supply chains that they need. According to the Open University, more than half of Scotland’s employers say that they have a skills shortage. Many of those businesses will pay the apprenticeship levy. The proceeds of that go to the Scottish Government; however, the SNP does not currently ring fence it to spend on skills. That must change.”
“Will John Swinney commit today that every young person who is qualified for an apprenticeship will have a guarantee of being able to access one? The First Minister: Mr Sarwar raised a couple of points. In the budget that has just been put into practice, the Government increased core college funding by 10 per cent, to £764 million. We have recognised some of the financial challenges that exist in our college sector. On apprenticeships, we are providing £198 million a year to support 25,500 new modern apprenticeships, 5,000 new foundation apprenticeships and more than 1,200 new graduate apprenticeships. That funding also supports more than 39,000 modern apprentices who are already in training. In our manifesto, we committed to increasing the number of apprenticeships to 150,000 over the parliamentary session.”
“That means no one right path after school—whether it be university, college, an apprenticeship or work. However, that is not the reality under the SNP Government. Shockingly, Scotland has one of the highest rates of young people not being in work, education or training. It is as many as one in six. That is not helped by the SNP Government’s having cut 20 per cent in real terms from college budgets in the past five years and having failed to meet its promises on apprenticeship numbers. The data for 2025-26 shows that apprenticeship starts fell below 25,000, which is the lowest number for more than a decade, excluding the period of the pandemic. If we are serious about ensuring that every young person has a chance to succeed, the system has to change.”
“On the most recent figures available, 93.5 per cent of young people were in a positive destination, which is an increase from 93.1 per cent in the previous year and is the joint highest figure since records began. Although there are issues in the Audit Scotland report that must be addressed, the Government is pleased that the general position of our young people on leaving school and going on to a positive destination— which is, surely, the most important measure of the exercise—is a strong one. Anas Sarwar: It is important that we measure where our young people are not weeks or months after they leave school but years afterwards, because that is what impacts on their life outcomes. Our young people are the future of our country, so they must be supported to achieve their ambitions.”
“Since the report from several years ago was published, the Government has presided over the passage of legislation to rationalise that area of activity. Work is under way to transfer the responsibility for the funding of further education student support from the Scottish Funding Council to the Student Awards Agency Scotland. There has also been strong progress in skills planning, with the introduction of a new model for skills planning in Scotland and the Scottish Government moving into a leadership role. That was proposed by James Withers and came out of the legislation. We have also begun work on the post-school education and skills reform programme, which commenced in January 2026, to address many of the issues raised by Audit Scotland. One of the key outcomes is about the destinations for young people when they leave school.”
“I associate myself entirely with the comments that Mr Sarwar made about the Muslim community and the necessity for all of us to stand together in the face of the spreading of hate in our society. In the disputatious world of politics, I am glad—and not in any way surprised—that Mr Sarwar and I are in exactly the same position on that question. I, too, pay tribute to the members of the armed forces for the service and commitment that they give. We have a parliamentary event on Saturday; that is also the occasion of armed forces day. I commend everyone who will be involved in armed forces day commemorations around the country. I welcome the report from Audit Scotland, because it is important that those vital issues are the subject of active debate.”
“For example, when it comes to large-scale renewable energy projects, when an application is at a certain level or scale, it automatically defers— it is not called in—to the Government. What has been raised is a fundamental reshaping of the planning policy of our country and the way in which our decisions are taken. I am prepared to consider that and contemplate it—I am trying to give answers that are as helpful as I possibly can be on the question—because I recognise the public concern. I assure Gillian Mackay that all the issues about local and national decision making and the implications for energy use will be considered fully in the exercise that I am prepared to undertake. Post-school Education and Skills 4.”
“While the guidance is being considered by the First Minister, will he announce a pause on applications? The First Minister: Gillian Mackay asks the Government to preside over two very different things. On one hand, she asks me to enable local authorities to take decisions that will be cognisant of and compatible with the country’s energy requirements. However, she expects local authorities to do that in a co-ordinated and organised fashion around the whole country. Those two things are not possible at the same time. That is why I must explore whether it is appropriate for such decision making to be undertaken at a local level, given the scale of the developments involved.”
“Local issues aside, the most significant impact of the data centres is their combined energy use. If all 24 applications are approved, they will use up to one and a half times the peak energy use of the whole of Scotland. If it is the Government’s position that councils should be able to make the planning decisions locally, I note that they cannot. How are we supposed to possibly get a handle on the combined energy impacts? How many do we have capacity for? At the moment, we simply do not know. Councils cannot make those decisions in a co- ordinated and planned way without the Scottish Government stepping in. The Government has the responsibility to provide councils with guidance and communities with certainty, and they need the pause that we are asking for.”
“I appreciate the urgency of the general policy elements of the question, because a number of applications are now being considered by planning authorities. My view is that, given the concerns that have been expressed by planning authorities, the Government has to be responsive to the issue. As I rehearsed last week with Mr Greer, a careful balance has to be struck between the extent and specificity of national guidance and the discretion that is available for local decision making. If that balance is not correct, the Government must examine it. I give a commitment to Gillian Mackay that that will be undertaken as a matter of priority by the Government. Planning authorities will hear what I am saying in the Parliament today and will be able to reflect on my comments. Gillian Mackay: I appreciate the First Minister’s response.”
“Fife Council has confirmed that the Scottish Government is looking at whether an environmental impact assessment is needed for the Auchtertool application, because that is not clear enough from existing guidance. That comes on top of City of Edinburgh councillors saying that they cannot make a decision on local applications until the Scottish Government comes up with a definition of what exactly a green data centre is. If the First Minister is considering a pause, what will be the timescale for that to ensure that we can take an overview of the applications? The First Minister: The first thing that I must say is that I have to compartmentalise my comments and not comment on the Auchtertool application, because it is live.”
“As I said last week, I understand the concerns about the environmental impact and the impact on energy resources that have been raised here, which emerge from the proliferation of applications for hyperscale data centres. I totally understand those concerns, as I made clear last week, and I have been reflecting on last week’s exchanges and looking further at the issue. I am giving active consideration to whether the Scottish Government should provide planning guidance to balance the rapid expansion of hyperscale data centres with national energy and climate goals, which are vital to our future prosperity. Gillian Mackay: I am pleased to hear that the First Minister is considering that, because councils are saying that they do not have the necessary guidance to decide on the megaplans.”
“[Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: Please allow the First Minister to answer. Quieten down. The First Minister: He called out Russell Findlay’s “robotic delivery and … lack of empathy”, and said that he thought that Mr Findlay would “consign the party to the wilderness”. On the basis of the Scottish parliamentary elections, Mr Findlay is well on the road to the wilderness of Scotland. [Interruption.]”
“This particular case must be the first time in living memory that Russell Findlay, who has championed the interests of victims, wants there to be an inquiry into the victim. To give Mr Findlay reassurance about the issues that he is concerned about, I simply say to him that I have addressed the issues with the SNP’s finances and the SNP has strong governance in place. I think that Russell Findlay should pay slightly more attention to some of the things that are being said about him. In the newspapers this morning, a much respected—[Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: Excuse me. Let us hear the answer to Mr Findlay’s question. The First Minister: A much respected former Conservative MSP, Edward Mountain, described Russell Findlay as a “disaster” and his leadership as “catastrophic”—as we have just seen.”
“Russell Findlay: As expected, there is no apology to the whistleblowers. The truth is that Peter Murrell should never have been free to commit those crimes. Members of the SNP’s finance and audit committee blew the whistle, but they were bullied into quitting after being refused access to basic information. Twice, John Swinney went on the BBC to say that his party’s finances were completely sound. He was at the heart of the cover-up then and now and that is why he is terrified of an inquiry: John Swinney, the king of the SNP cover-up, is desperate to cover his own back. Is that not the simple truth? The First Minister: Russell Findlay is going on about the need for an inquiry into all those issues.”
“First, I congratulate Douglas Lumsden on his election to the House of Commons. It will be an exciting moment for him, and I wish him well in his arduous responsibilities, particularly in tabling written parliamentary questions. [Laughter.] I extend a warm welcome to James Adams and express my apologies that I was not here, as I should have been, for his swearing in—I was detained on other Government business. I wish him well in his parliamentary engagement on behalf of the people of the north-east of Scotland. I have apologised to members of the Scottish National Party for the events that have affected the party’s finances and I reiterate that apology today. The comments that Russell Findlay makes about me are baseless—utterly and totally baseless— but we have become accustomed to that from Russell Findlay.”
“Although not all the measures that were passed by the Parliament have been commenced, I do not think that it is a fair characterisation to say that the Government has been dragging its heels. I assure Mr Cole-Hamilton that the Government is entirely focused on ensuring that women and girls are protected in our society and that, as the recently retired Lord Advocate demonstrated, we have a front-footed approach to ensuring that sexual crime is pursued. That will always be the case for the Government. SNP Finances 2.”
“The First Minister: I am advised that the figures for the proportion of people who returned to custody were 13 per cent in the first tranche of the prisoner release scheme and 5 per cent in the second tranche. That is not quite the same issue that Mr Cole-Hamilton put to me, but I will furnish him with more details about his question. I share his concern about the reporting and pursuit of sexual crime, because no woman should be subjected to sexual crimes and domestic violence, and the Government has passed legislation to address those issues. There has been a significant increase in the reporting of sexual crime and domestic violence, and there have been substantial increases in prosecution, which is one of the factors contributing to the high prison population.”
“For as long as we do not have a proper strategy on prison capacity, rehabilitation and clearing the court backlog, early release will be a revolving door, with people going in, coming out and going back into our prisons. Our justice system is in crisis, so we need a strategy. The Lib Dems will play a part in that, but we also need to use the tools that we have available right now. Sexual crime is at the highest level since 1971, a rise that Rape Crisis Scotland describes as “shameful” and “sharp”. Many of those assaults will have been committed by a partner, yet the domestic abuse protections that the Parliament agreed to five years ago are still not in place. When will the First Minister’s Government stop dragging its feet, act on the will of the Parliament and restore the public’s faith in our broken justice system?”
“On the question about the prison population, as members will be aware—the Government has been very transparent with the Parliament over the course of the past two and a half years—the prison population has been rising significantly. With parliamentary consent, the Government has introduced measures that have resulted in the early release of certain prisoners, although there are significant exemptions in place. Later this afternoon, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice will lead a debate on the prison population and our strategy to respond to the sentencing and penal policy commission report that we received before the election. I do not have the details about reoffending in front of me, but I am happy to write to Mr Cole- Hamilton on that point. Alex Cole-Hamilton: We can be sure that the number is not zero.”
“I associate myself unreservedly Mr Cole-Hamilton’s comments about the feelings in the Muslim community. On Monday, I visited the Broomhouse mosque along with Simita Kumar and the Annandale Street mosque in Edinburgh with Ben Macpherson. Of course, the Broomhouse mosque is twinned with the Blackhall mosque, which I think is probably in Mr Cole-Hamilton’s constituency—if not, it is very close by. The feeling of unease in the Muslim community is palpable. As I indicated in my answers on Tuesday, I met the young men who were the victims of last Friday’s attacks, and my heart goes out to them for the trauma and physical injury that they have suffered. I reiterate my absolute whole- hearted commitment to give the leadership that is needed in Scotland to ensure that we live in a tolerant and inclusive country at all times.”
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“At col 26, para 6, line 3— Original text— The budget for 2026-27 provides the SFRS with an additional £23.8 million compared with the previous year, bringing its total budget to £535 million, which is a 5.7 per cent increase. Corrected text— The budget for 2026-27 provides the SFRS with an additional £23.8 million compared with the previous year, bringing its total budget to £435.96 million, which is a 5.7 per cent increase. This is a draft Official Report and is subject to correction between publication and archiving, which will take place no later than 35 working days after the date of the meeting.”
“The Presiding Officer: The final question is, that motion S7M-00454, in the name of Tom Arthur, on the Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill, which is United Kingdom legislation, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division. The vote is closed.”
“Motion, as amended, agreed to, That the Parliament recognises that climate change constitutes an emergency; supports the goal to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius; notes the consequences of climate change that are currently impacting populations and places around the world; condemns any spread of misinformation about and denial of the impacts of climate change that undermine the evidence base; reaffirms Scotland's commitment to delivering ambitious climate action and achieving net zero by 2045, in line with its statutory carbon budget targets; agrees on the need to enhance Scotland's climate resilience and adaptation efforts to safeguard people, communities, public services and ecosystems from the impacts of climate change; welcomes the transformative opportunities presented by climate action, including significant economic, social, environmental and public health benefits; acknowledges that delivery of the transition must be fair and inclusive for all; recognises that, in order to meet the 2030 targets and beyond, the pace of change has to accelerate, acknowledging that, if pace continues at the current rate, targets will be missed; calls on the Scottish Government to publish detailed plans on how it will meet interim targets, and further calls on the Scottish Government to move at pace to bring forward retrofitting and other measures to tackle fuel poverty and help Scotland reach its climate targets.”
“For Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Ahmed, Irshad (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab) Anderson, Heather (Dundee City West) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley) (SNP) Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Barratt, David (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Baxter, Andrew (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (LD) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North) (SNP) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Black, Dawn (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Bonnar, Steven (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Bouse, Gary (Falkirk West) (SNP) Brown, Alan (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Bruce, Holly (Glasgow Southside) (Green) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Campbell, Kate (Edinburgh Eastern, Musselburgh and Tranent) (SNP) Campbell, Michelle (Renfrewshire North and Cardonald) (SNP) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Chou Turvey, Yi-pei (North East Scotland) (LD) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Day, Martyn (Falkirk East and Linlithgow) (SNP) Dijkstra-Downie, Sanne (Edinburgh Northern) (LD) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Kelvin and Maryhill) (SNP) Duane, Iris (Glasgow) (Green) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Dunlop, Duncan (South Scotland) (LD) Fagan, Joe (South Scotland) (Lab) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) Gethins, Stephen (Dundee City East) (SNP) Ghani, Zen (Glasgow Cathcart and Pollok) (SNP) Gibson, Patricia (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Goodlad, Hannah Mary (Shetland Islands) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie) (SNP) Green, David (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Lab) Hagmann, Katie (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Harley, Adam (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (LD) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen and Cambuslang) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Kerr, Alex (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP) Kerr, Calum (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Kinross-O’Neill, Kayleigh (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Kumar, Simita (Edinburgh South Western) (SNP) Leask, Kristopher (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Linden, David (Glasgow Baillieston and Shettleston) (SNP) Long, Joe (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) MacCallum, Morven-May (Highlands and Islands) (LD) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Green) MacKinnon, Donald (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (Lab) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith) (SNP) Manivannan, Q (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Cara (West Scotland) (Green) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Easterhouse and Springburn) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Melville, Lloyd (Angus South) (SNP) Merrick, Colm (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Middleton, Jack (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mitchell, Laura (Moray) (SNP) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Moodie, Laura (South Scotland) (Green) Nevens, Kate (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Oswald, Kirsten (Eastwood) (SNP) Rennie, Willie (Fife North East) (LD) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Sangster, Katherine (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab) Slater, Lorna (Edinburgh Central) (Green) Smith, Alyn (Stirling) (SNP) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stafford, Pauline (Bathgate) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thewliss, Alison (Glasgow Central) (SNP) Young, Jenny (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Lab) Against Bannerman, Max (Highlands and Islands) (Reform) Beresford, Senga (South Scotland) (Reform) Bland, Amanda (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Reform) Briggs, Miles (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Currie, Victor (Highlands and Islands) (Reform) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Hoy, Craig (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Kerr, Thomas (Glasgow) (Reform) Kirkwood, David (South Scotland) (Reform) Langan, Jamie (South Scotland) (Reform) Lindsay, Amanda (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Reform) MacDougall, Julie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Reform) Massey, Duncan (North East Scotland) (Reform) McDade, Helen (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Reform) Offord, Malcolm (West Scotland) (Reform) Ross, Angela (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Reform) Schmulian, Kim (Glasgow) (Reform) Simpson, Graham (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Reform) Simpson, Mark (North East Scotland) (Reform) Smith, David (West Scotland) (Reform) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on motion S7M-00434, in the name of Gillian Martin, on meeting the challenge of climate change, as amended, is: For 92, Against 27, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment disagreed to. The Presiding Officer: The next question is, that motion S7M-00434, in the name of Gillian Martin, on meeting the challenge of climate change, as amended, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division. The vote is closed. The First Minister: On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My device would not connect again. I would have voted yes. The Presiding Officer: Thank you. Your vote is recorded.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My device would not connect. I would have voted no. The Presiding Officer: Thank you. Your vote is recorded. For Bannerman, Max (Highlands and Islands) (Reform) Beresford, Senga (South Scotland) (Reform) Bland, Amanda (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Reform) Briggs, Miles (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Currie, Victor (Highlands and Islands) (Reform) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Hoy, Craig (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Kerr, Thomas (Glasgow) (Reform) Kirkwood, David (South Scotland) (Reform) Langan, Jamie (South Scotland) (Reform) Lindsay, Amanda (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Reform) MacDougall, Julie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Reform) Massey, Duncan (North East Scotland) (Reform) McDade, Helen (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Reform) Offord, Malcolm (West Scotland) (Reform) Ross, Angela (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Reform) Schmulian, Kim (Glasgow) (Reform) Simpson, Graham (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Reform) Simpson, Mark (North East Scotland) (Reform) Smith, David (West Scotland) (Reform) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Ahmed, Irshad (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab) Anderson, Heather (Dundee City West) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley) (SNP) Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Barratt, David (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Baxter, Andrew (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (LD) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North) (SNP) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Black, Dawn (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Bonnar, Steven (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Bouse, Gary (Falkirk West) (SNP) Brown, Alan (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Bruce, Holly (Glasgow Southside) (Green) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Campbell, Kate (Edinburgh Eastern, Musselburgh and Tranent) (SNP) Campbell, Michelle (Renfrewshire North and Cardonald) (SNP) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Chou Turvey, Yi-pei (North East Scotland) (LD) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Day, Martyn (Falkirk East and Linlithgow) (SNP) Dijkstra-Downie, Sanne (Edinburgh Northern) (LD) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Kelvin and Maryhill) (SNP) Duane, Iris (Glasgow) (Green) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Dunlop, Duncan (South Scotland) (LD) Fagan, Joe (South Scotland) (Lab) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) Gethins, Stephen (Dundee City East) (SNP) Ghani, Zen (Glasgow Cathcart and Pollok) (SNP) Gibson, Patricia (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Goodlad, Hannah Mary (Shetland Islands) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie) (SNP) Green, David (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Lab) Hagmann, Katie (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Harley, Adam (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (LD) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen and Cambuslang) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Kerr, Alex (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP) Kerr, Calum (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Kinross-O’Neill, Kayleigh (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Kumar, Simita (Edinburgh South Western) (SNP) Leask, Kristopher (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Linden, David (Glasgow Baillieston and Shettleston) (SNP) Long, Joe (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) MacCallum, Morven-May (Highlands and Islands) (LD) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Green) MacKinnon, Donald (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (Lab) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith) (SNP) Manivannan, Q (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Cara (West Scotland) (Green) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Easterhouse and Springburn) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Melville, Lloyd (Angus South) (SNP) Merrick, Colm (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Middleton, Jack (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mitchell, Laura (Moray) (SNP) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Moodie, Laura (South Scotland) (Green) Nevens, Kate (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Oswald, Kirsten (Eastwood) (SNP) Rennie, Willie (Fife North East) (LD) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Sangster, Katherine (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab) Slater, Lorna (Edinburgh Central) (Green) Smith, Alyn (Stirling) (SNP) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stafford, Pauline (Bathgate) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thewliss, Alison (Glasgow Central) (SNP) Young, Jenny (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Lab) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on amendment S7M-00434.5, in the name of Finlay Carson, is: For 27, Against 92, Abstentions 0.”
“We will establish an independent panel to undertake a rapid review of revaluation, and we will ensure that the appeals process has the capacity to deliver timely outcomes. The assessor function will be reviewed, with options being developed over the summer. Of course, we will continue to enhance incentives for investment. Our comprehensive review will consider fundamental changes but, in the short term, the Government will respond positively and openly to constructive ideas. Crucially, we will work in partnership with business to drive the inclusive economic growth that our nation requires in order to meet the challenges of our time.”
“We must all reflect that that includes Scottish businesses, which recognise the support that the Government has been able to put in place during extraordinarily challenging times for our businesses. In returning to office, ministers are mindful of the need for greater action and impetus, to acknowledge the ongoing economic uncertainty of our times. The Government has committed to a comprehensive review of non-domestic rates to support our businesses across the country. In addition, I have confirmed today that we will act to deliver increased transparency, accountability and clarity. On billing, we will improve access to self- service information, and we will work with local government on a billing system that works on time, first time.”
“Alongside that comprehensive review, we will identify early changes that can be made at the next Scottish budget to enhance and better target our existing package. The final decisions on such changes will be confirmed at the Scottish budget, but I can announce today that, from 1 April 2027, vape shops will be excluded from eligibility for relief. I place on record my thanks to The Courier, The Press and Journal and the Sunday Post for their campaigning to support Scotland’s businesses. Campaigning journalism can deliver real results, and those publications should be commended for their role in that. The Government was returned to office with a strong mandate from the people of Scotland.”
“Similarly, cliff edges in relief eligibility can encourage the turnover of properties or constrain expansion. We have heard that concern in the campaign led by The Courier and others, which calls for an expansion in eligibility for fresh start relief. We have already committed to a comprehensive review of non-domestic rates, which will examine the impacts and configuration of our reliefs. However, recognising the benefit to businesses of having certainty on rates and reliefs for the duration of the three-year valuation period, we have provided that certainty on some of our most significant reliefs over the next three years. As a result, our comprehensive review will start this summer, in order for any fundamental changes to be in place for the next round of revaluation.”
“I intend to explore further the potential role for a national assessor and the option of placing the Scottish Assessors Association on a statutory footing, with reporting obligations to Parliament. Such changes would require full system redesign and legislation, but I acknowledge that assurance is needed now, which is exactly why I have committed to an independent rapid review of the 2026 revaluation. The Government is providing a package of relief, which, I remind members, is forecast to be worth more than £870 million in 2026-27. That includes the business growth accelerator and fresh start reliefs, which are the most generous schemes of their type across the United Kingdom. However, I am mindful of concerns that capital investments can translate directly into increased rates liabilities, which can act as a disincentive to growth.”
“It is important that the judiciary is independent in how it organises its work, but I commit today to examining how the Government can support increasing the capacity of the local tax chamber to support that process. Thirdly, ministers have listened to the concerns about the valuation system, and I commit today to a general review of the assessor function. The review will ensure that assessors’ independence in valuation is maintained, but it will also seek to ensure that there is confidence in the system for all. Over the summer, we will begin engaging with stakeholders to develop options for reform to the structure of assessors and establish how those options could deliver improvements in accountability and transparency.”
“I therefore announce today that the Government will establish an independent panel to undertake a rapid review of the outcomes of the 2026 revaluation. Specifically, it will be tasked with examining and reporting to ministers, within three months of its appointment, on allegedly anomalous valuations and their overall impact. Ministers will ask the panel to make recommendations on how those might be addressed. Secondly, alongside that immediate review, we must ensure that business owners who consider their rates to be inaccurate have access to timely recourse. The appeals system is intended to allow ratepayers to request changes to a property valuation from the assessor in the first instance, with the possibility of appeal to the independent First-tier Tribunal for Scotland.”
“In relation to accountability, I will address three matters: the short-term issues arising from the revaluation; improvements to the appeals process; and consideration of more significant structural change to our current model. First, this Government has heard clearly the concerns about apparent anomalies in the 2026 revaluation. A number of examples have been raised with ministers. Although an appeals system to consider such cases through the Scottish tribunals exists, we want to be sure that there is not a systemic issue of inconsistent valuations. We are mindful that, due to the one-year tone date— something that England has thus far considered unworkable—assessors are producing draft valuations in less than eight months.”
“Such delays create unnecessary challenges for businesses, making it harder to plan ahead and manage cash flow. That is why we will take two actions in that space. We will provide improved self-service information for ratepayers to assess their likely liabilities through our online rates calculator. Alongside that, we will work with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Improvement Service to ensure that the non-domestic rates billing system works as it should. Specifically, I want to reach agreement, working with local government, on an NDR billing system that will deliver accurate bills on time, all the time.”
“That is why we committed to working with the business community to strengthen our rates system and accountability. I turn to the ratepayer experience. To ensure clarity, we will deliver change in how the non- domestic rates billing system works. It is an unfortunate consequence of our current fiscal arrangements that our tax decisions are confirmed only in the Scottish budget, which follows the United Kingdom budget. That leaves an incredibly tight period of time in which the Scottish Government is expected to set our budget. Notwithstanding that, however, it is unacceptable that delays in software updates have prevented ratepayers from receiving accurate bills ahead of the financial year, with bills often arriving only late into the summer months.”
“Alongside those tax rate reductions, the budget delivered the largest relief package in cash terms since devolution, excluding the temporary support that we provided during the pandemic. We do not want to lose the positive elements of the existing system. Nonetheless, I know that there are real concerns about the accountability of assessors and the consistency and transparency of valuations. Many ratepayers have found the rates system and property valuations to be complex and uncertain, and we are also seeing delays in accurate bills being issued. We know that businesses are already dealing with the fallout from international conflicts alongside the on-going damage of Brexit, which has been compounded by the UK Government’s increase in employer national insurance contributions.”
“However, it is important that all Governments listen and that we continue to focus our efforts on alleviating the pressures that our businesses face. That is why I am pleased today to set out our plans for reform of the non-domestic rates system in Scotland. Our current system is built on many strengths. Earlier this year, 1 April marked the first three- yearly revaluation in Scotland and the start of the second revaluation cycle based on rental values one year earlier. This year’s Scottish budget reduced all three tax rates during this financial year in order to ensure a broadly revenue-neutral revaluation cycle in real terms—one that is redistributive and not tax raising.”
“As is the case with family finances, businesses are having to respond to inflation and are struggling with energy bills, increased staffing costs, food prices and VAT. In that context, it is important to remember that this Government has already taken action to help to alleviate the pressures that our businesses currently face. This year’s rates relief package is worth close to £1 billion, and we know that that is helping to provide relief to tens of thousands of businesses all over Scotland. They also continue to welcome support such as the small business bonus and targeted retail, hospitality and leisure relief. We responded directly to calls from the self-catering sector for a dedicated transitional relief, which the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers has welcomed.”
“Non-domestic Rates 15:03 The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government (Jenny Gilruth): Delivering increased economic growth will be at the very heart of this Government’s agenda in the next five years. We want to ensure that Scotland is full of vibrant communities where it is easy to start and grow a business, where the ambition and creativity of Scottish society are embraced and where the Government acts to create the right conditions to attract the inward investment that is needed. A key part of making intensified economic growth a reality will be getting the right framework for non-domestic rates, because we know that businesses all across Scotland are struggling.”
“I am open to engagement with other parties, because, as Mr Dunlop knows, the Government does not have a majority here. If we want to improve things for members of the public and if we all agree that the social care system is not working effectively, we must be prepared to contemplate reform. I know there will be resistance to that reform, but I look forward to working with colleagues from across the political spectrum to secure the reform that is necessary to deliver better outcomes for members of the public. The Presiding Officer: That concludes questions from back-bench members. I apologise to those members I was unable to call; there were many of you.”