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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“That is another example of why people have been left dismayed by the actions of the incoming Labour Government. One of its first actions, after 14 miserable Conservative years, was to take away the universal winter fuel payments from pensioners. Frankly, for members of the public, it beggars belief that that was the priority of the Labour Government. The Scottish Government is taking action and has made provision in the budget that means that every pensioner household in Scotland will receive a guaranteed minimum of £100 this winter. That will support 815,000 pensioner households and increase the total forecasted investment in our winter heating benefits to £138 million. Pensioners in Scotland can be assured that, when the Labour Government lets you down, the SNP will come to your rescue.”
“That is the account that has been given to me. Talks start at 1 o’clock this afternoon, and Mr Leonard will not be surprised to hear what the Government is doing: we are encouraging a resolution of those issues to ensure that the matters are resolved amicably. Winter”
“Yesterday, I received a letter from the general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress on some of those questions about the Scottish Water pay talks. Last night, I asked for an update from the chief executive of Scottish Water on the approach that has been taken to the negotiations. I received that update just before 8 o’clock this morning, and I have considered it. In that note from the chief executive of Scottish Water, he indicates to me that he attended the talks to demonstrate leadership support for the engagement but— [Interruption.] I ask Mr Leonard to allow me to finish my sentence. The chief executive said that he did not participate in the negotiations because he wanted to leave them to the established negotiating machinery, involving the trade unions and the leadership of Scottish Water.”
“There is an interplay of different factors that have to be considered in relation to fisheries management and the sustainability of our oceans. The Government’s policy framework aims to do that and to reconcile some of those tensions and challenges. We will take that forward through engagement with different communities and stakeholders and by ensuring that we fulfil our statutory obligations. Scottish Water (Pay Negotiations)”
“The report highlights the difference in the approaches that are taken in Scottish Government policies and United Kingdom Government policies, which has resulted in a situation where child poverty rates are lower in Scotland than in the rest of the UK. There are interesting and powerful observations in the report. The Scottish Government is taking forward work to remove the two-child limit, which is a step that should have been taken by the Labour Government. People in Scotland can be assured that the Scottish Government is getting on with doing what a Labour Government is not doing properly for Scotland, and that we will be lifting children out of poverty as a consequence. Marine Environment and”
“As Rhoda Grant probably knows, I am very familiar with issues in relation to the ferry fleet. CalMac has to make a variety of operational judgments. One of the obligations of the contract that has been put in place is that such judgments must be undertaken in dialogue with the ferry users committee and individual island communities, which I know is something that the Cabinet Secretary for Transport insists on at all times. As Rhoda Grant will know, more capacity will come into the fleet shortly, and those operational issues will be considered. I hear her point in relation to the MV Isle of Lewis and I will ask for a briefing on the current situation to make sure that the needs of the community in Barra are properly taken into account.”
“I am not familiar with the case that Pam Gosal puts to me, although I understand that Mr Gibson, who is the local member, has met the Largs Medical Group to discuss the issue. This is a local matter and a variety of discussions will have to be undertaken with the local authority and the health board. Those issues will be considered at a local level, but it is important that we have a network of social care and residential care facilities around the country that meets the needs of the population. That must be a fundamental hallmark of our society. Of course, one of the challenges that we face in social care and residential care is finding enough care workers, which is not helped by the UK Government’s approach to immigration. Ferry Services (Barra)”
“I also raised the issue with the Prime Minister when we met a week past Friday and indicated that we need a different and distinctive approach to migration in Scotland. This Government will pursue that, doing so in consultation and dialogue with stakeholders, one of which is Scottish Engineering. I welcome the contribution from that organisation, which Michelle Thomson has placed on the record. Largs (Care Home Impact)”
“The Government will do that. I am not sure whether I have shared this detail with Parliament, although I think that I may have done. In the aftermath of the publication by the United Kingdom Government of its green paper on immigration, I convened a meeting of stakeholders across the education, health, social care, food and drink, hospitality, construction and engineering sectors. The view that was expressed to me from around that table was that the proposals from the UK Government were directly damaging to the prospects of the Scottish economy, given the challenges that we face in boosting our working-age population, which is boosted by migration. We are working with stakeholders.”
“I assure Mr Ruskell that the Government would welcome the ferry route and that we will do everything that we can to remove any obstacles that are in the way. The Presiding Officer: We move on to constituency and general supplementary questions. Concise questions and responses will enable more members to be involved. Immigration (Workers’ Skills)”
“The Presiding Officer: I remind members always to speak through the chair. The First Minister: I welcome the assessment given by Mr Ruskell. I know that the Cabinet Secretary for Transport is very much engaged on the question and is familiar with the border control issue that is causing some difficulty. She has discussed the issue with Mr Ruskell and with Annabelle Ewing, who has also been pursuing the issue. We have had good and constructive discussions with DFDS, Forth Ports and various other interested parties. I am very happy to be involved, but I am super- confident that the Cabinet Secretary for Transport will be able to do all that I could possibly contribute. I am sure that she will let me know if she needs any support.”
“It is absolutely clear that a direct ferry service between Rosyth and Dunkirk would be a great win for the economy and the environment as well as being wonderful news for all of us who cherish connections with the rest of Europe. I understand that the ferry operator DFDS wants to move forward and to begin sailings next spring, Forth Ports in Rosyth wants progress, the port of Dunkirk has bought into the idea and the Westminster Government is also supportive. The only thing that is getting in the way, First Minister, is Brexit bureaucracy regarding the location of a border control post. Time is ticking away because a resolution must be found by the end of June in order to secure the service. First Minister, are you able to take the lead in convening stakeholders to resolve the remaining issues and get that over the line?”
“The Scottish Government remains wholly convinced that Scotland’s future would be best served by being a member of the European Union and we are determined to support the transport connections that will enable that to be possible. Improving our transport and trade links to the European mainland is even more important given the challenges that we face at this time. The Cabinet Secretary for Transport met Mr Ruskell on Tuesday evening to discuss the issue and I know that she is happy to continue communicating regularly with potential operators and with Scotland’s main ports so that Scottish exporters and passengers can have more direct routes to and from Europe. Mark Ruskell: I welcome that engagement with the cabinet secretary earlier this week.”
“The third point that I would make to Roz McCall is that a lot of work is undertaken in Scotland to support international activity to tackle child sexual abuse. The Atlanta declaration, which brings together the world’s leading child protection experts to tackle such abuse, has its roots in Scotland, and it is part of the work that we are taking forward to lead the international effort in that respect. My final point is that Roz McCall said that it was naive to expect online platforms to tackle the issue, but I do not think that that is naive—I think that online platforms have an absolute obligation to tackle the issue. They are currently getting away scot free, and we are engaging with the United Kingdom Government to do as much as we can to ensure that online platforms live up to their responsibilities.”
“First, the fact that Police Scotland’s national child abuse investigation unit is carrying out many more investigations illustrates that police resources are being deployed appropriately to tackle issues of serious crime in our society. That is my first point of reassurance. My second is that the work that is undertaken in relation to, for example, prosecutions is formidably effective. The conviction rate for individuals who were prosecuted for child abuse in 2022-23 was 89 per cent, so the evidence that is gathered by the police and the Crown is strong enough to obtain that level of convictions. That level of convictions has been sustained, despite the fact that there has been a growth in cases.”
“We are actioning between 15 and 20 search warrants on a weekly basis across Scotland. Let’s be perfectly blunt about it—the demand is through the roof.” Those are not my words, but the words of a Police Scotland detective chief inspector. Our children are in more danger now than they were in previous decades, thanks to the progress of technology, and paedophiles can now make direct contact with children within 30 seconds— that is a truly terrifying statistic. To say that it is down to online platforms to control the issue is naive in the extreme. Since 2015, police numbers have gone down by 750. My question is simply this: how can Police Scotland keep our children safe when it has fewer officers and crime is increasing? The First Minister: I will make a number of points to Roz McCall.”
“Child sexual abuse and exploitation are abhorrent crimes that have a devastating impact on victims and their families. My heart goes out to any child who has experienced abuse. Any reported rise in abuse of that nature is, of course, deeply concerning. I recognise the vital work of Police Scotland’s national child abuse investigation unit in identifying and safeguarding children and stopping perpetrators and bringing them to justice. The Scottish Government is working with Police Scotland and other partners to support robust collective action, and I encourage anyone with a concern about a child to contact Police Scotland. Roz McCall: Presiding Officer, “People based in Scotland are offending against Scottish children. It’s a lot closer to home these days. It’s on our doorstep.”
“As I indicated in my earlier answer, we have increased the budget for Screen Scotland, and in its strategy, which was published last year, it outlined an ambitious plan to grow the sector further and to combine international investment with increased support for emerging Scottish producers and local creative originations. The development is very welcome, and I am delighted that Mr Macpherson has highlighted the significance of the opportunity for”
“How can we build on our recent success, continue to grow our screen industry and work together across the public sector to make Scotland an even better and more attractive place for more filming commissions, including from the BBC and Channel 4? The First Minister: Mr Macpherson gives a strong account of the situation in his constituency. I welcome the investments that have been made in relation to “Dept Q”—it has been a tremendous success and will be a great advert and showcase for our country. The Government will support the screen sector as strongly as we can.”
“As has been mentioned, Netflix’s new, gripping, fictitious drama “Dept Q” was released globally last week. Much of it was filmed at FirstStage Studios in Leith, in my constituency, in other locations around Edinburgh and elsewhere in our picturesque nation. “Dept Q” is currently one of the most viewed series on Netflix; at the moment, it is ranked number 1 in the United Kingdom. It promotes our country in various ways—even the Parliament gets a mention—and many of the very talented cast and crew are Scots. The producers, Left Bank Pictures, have stated that they had a great experience filming in Scotland, which is really uplifting.”
“We are committed to seizing the significant opportunities to grow our screen sector and have increased the budget for Screen Scotland, our dedicated public agency for screen, by £2 million in the current financial year to £11.25 million. That will allow Screen Scotland to continue to nurture locally originated content, develop skills and training opportunities and education for the next generation, and increase inward investment. An ever-increasing number of productions are choosing Scotland, such as the latest Netflix drama “Dept Q”, which was supported by Screen Scotland and filmed on set and in studios in Edinburgh. Ben Macpherson: As the First Minister has said, several successful and notable productions have been filmed in Scotland in recent years, and they have made a positive creative and economic impact.”
“The privatisation of water in England has been an unmitigated disaster for the people of England and Wales, and I thank our predecessors for not taking such a foolish decision in the first place. We operate in a situation that is not perfect, but in which we have a high level of performance in relation to the quality of our natural environment. I do not think that it is a good advert for Mr Cole- Hamilton to undermine the strength of the natural environment of Scotland when we are spending £500 million on improving water quality in Scotland, and then to compare Scotland’s water— an asset to our country—to the folly that is privatisation in England and Wales. Film and Television Production 4.”
“Last year, Scottish Water dumped sewage at least 24,500 times, but the lack of monitoring means that we know about only a fraction of what is really going on. The Scottish Liberal Democrats are calling for a new act of Parliament—a clean water act—to tackle the issue, because, under the Scottish National Party, communities are just expected to put up with it. Last week, Thames Water got fined £100 million for sewage dumping, but there are never any consequences here in Scotland. Is that because the First Minister knows that it is his Government that is at fault for this absolutely honking problem? The First Minister: What is absolutely honking is Mr Cole-Hamilton’s attempt to conflate the situation in Scotland—and the operation of one of the strongest assets in our country in our publicly owned water network—with that of Thames Water.”
“On the question of water quality, I note that 87 per cent of Scotland’s entire water environment is assessed by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency as having a high or good classification, an increase from 82 per cent in 2014. Obviously, I want to ensure that we have the highest-quality natural environment, and that we have water systems that are of the highest quality, too, and those figures indicate that the Government is making progress on the steps that we are taking to ensure that that is the case. Alex Cole-Hamilton: The complacency in the First Minister’s answer suggests that he is content with the situation as it is. The European Court of Justice has ruled that sewage dumping should happen only in exceptional circumstances, but it is happening all the time and almost everywhere, even on dry days.”
“I appreciate that there are pressures on cancer services and wider healthcare services across the country. That is why the Government has introduced measures that are strengthening the NHS. For example, we committed to providing an additional 64,000 appointments and procedures by March of this year. However, we did not deliver 64,000; we delivered 105,500. The Scottish Government is putting in investment to strengthen delivery so that we reduce waiting times and improve access to the NHS, and that will dominate the Government’s approach to the NHS in the period to come. Sewage 3.”
“Is it not the case that the NHS is simply not safe in John Swinney’s hands? The First Minister: The first thing that I want to say is that there is nothing in the proposal about Wishaw general hospital that is about saving money. It is about maximising the chances of saving babies’ lives. That is what the proposal, which was informed by expert opinion, is about. On the question of cancer care that Mr Sarwar raised, I indicate to him that, in relation to the 31- day standard, the performance at the most recent stage of reporting was that 94.7 per cent of patients were treated within 31 days of a decision to treat. The median wait for treatment was just four days—at least half of those patients are being given treatment within four days of being referred in relation to the 31-day standard.”
“I will give the First Minister another case—that of Amanda Todd, a mum who faced the prospect of travelling from Scotland to Dublin to give birth. Why? It was because the SNP has already overseen a shortage of beds here. Amanda found out that there would be space in Scotland for her and her baby only the day before her operation; she had been told to plan to go to Dublin. Amanda told me: “It seems that the SNP Government cares more about saving money than saving babies’ lives.” Amanda’s story is just one example of how the SNP has broken our NHS. Just this week, we learned that waiting lists for child and adolescent mental health services are growing, that Scotland’s NHS faces a cancer specialist crisis and that more Scots than ever before are being forced to go private.”
“The unit at Wishaw will continue, but it will be recommended that the very small number of babies who need expert specialist care to maximise their chances of survival should be treated in a different way. That is the expert advice that the Government has received. Anas Sarwar: John Swinney is choosing to listen to certain experts and to ignore other experts in the process. He is choosing to hide behind experts when it comes to the Government’s decision. The reality is that the award-winning Wishaw unit is giving life-saving care. The expertise exists there, but it would not exist if the unit was downgraded. The SNP’s failure to support neonatal services and other services in the national health service has a human cost.”
“The First Minister: I take issue with two points in the description that Mr Sarwar has put to the Parliament today. The first is the suggestion that this is somehow my personal, individual view. The Government has sought expert clinical opinion. This has not been conjured up by the Government, having considered the issue on its own behalf. We have sought expert clinical opinion, and I have put on the record where it has come from. On other occasions, members of the Parliament take the Government to task for not following expert opinion, but, in this case, Mr Sarwar wants me to ignore expert clinical opinion, which has led us to the conclusions that we have arrived at. My second point is about the future of the Wishaw unit.”
“The reality is that downgrading the Wishaw neonatal unit will force families to travel on long journeys for care. We can take the example of Tammy Johnstone. Her son, Kai, was so sick when he was born that she was not allowed to touch him for 72 hours. She gave birth to him locally in Wishaw. However, under the SNP’s plans, she would have been forced to travel, perhaps to Aberdeen or even further afield. She told me: “Kai was so ill that he was four weeks old before I was allowed to pick him up—how would he have been put in an ambulance anywhere, let alone to Aberdeen? Doing things like that can cause everlasting damage.” The SNP’s plans to downgrade the Wishaw neonatal unit are opposed by clinicians, experts and parents such as Tammy. Why does John Swinney think that he is right and that experts, clinicians, nurses and parents are wrong?”
“Those recommendations were made for babies who have the most serious and complex conditions or are at the extremes of prematurity, so they need the most specialist level of care to have the best chance of survival. The Government received that professional clinical advice from experts, and I think that the Government is correct to follow it. The vast majority of babies will still be cared for in their local neonatal unit, and those units, including the one in Wishaw, will continue to deliver a range of care, including some intensive care. Anas Sarwar: My understanding is that the experts actually suggested a range of options and that the Government is choosing an option at the lower level of that range rather than other options.”
“The recommendations that the Government has considered in relation to the neonatal unit at Wishaw general hospital are the product of advice from an expert group that included the medical director of NHS Forth Valley; the Scottish neonatal nurses group; Bliss, which is the United Kingdom’s leading charity for babies who are born premature or sick; and the Scottish Perinatal Network. The expert group recommended that we take forward a model that was tested at a number of different sites around the country—Queen Elizabeth university hospital, Crosshouse hospital, Edinburgh royal infirmary and Victoria hospital. The group proposed that units should be located at the Royal hospital for children in Glasgow, Aberdeen maternity hospital and Edinburgh royal infirmary’s Simpson centre for reproductive health.”
“The Government will always keep legislation under review, but it has to be acknowledged that our criminal justice authorities, the police and the Crown Office have been successful in apprehending, imprisoning, interrupting and disrupting organised crime in this country, and I give the public the assurance that, under my Government’s leadership, that will be sustained in the years to come. University Hospital Wishaw (Neonatal Intensive Care) 2.”
“We must turn the tables on the drug gangs so that they live in fear. Will John Swinney toughen the legislation to make it fit to tackle organised crime in 2025 and beyond? The First Minister: I am open to ensuring that we have in place the correct legislative framework to deal with criminality in our country. That is why the Government brings forward legislation. Mr Findlay is making suggestions about an area of policy that could be considered for strengthening. I am perfectly willing to consider that, because I do not want anybody to benefit from criminal activity in our society, and I want people to be punished accordingly.”
“That is the right position for people to hear from this Parliament. Russell Findlay: John Swinney appears to be hearing things—I said no such thing. We have top-level crime bosses making millions of pounds from killing vulnerable Scots with their drugs. We were told that the Mr Bigs would be bankrupted by the proceeds of crime law that was passed at the start of devolution, but the law has failed. Criminals and their white-collar enablers no longer fear the proceeds of crime legislation, and, 18 months ago, the SNP rejected my call to review why that is not working. According to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, one drug dealer made more than £126 million, but it can find only £118,000-worth of his assets. The proceeds of crime legislation needs an urgent and radical overhaul.”
“We cannot have messages being issued from this Parliament that indicate that there are no consequences for serious criminal activity, because there are, no matter the age of the individual who is involved. We as a Parliament cannot have a situation in which we do not properly represent what the law and the sentencing guidelines state, because people could take the wrong conclusions from that. Mr Findlay has made a number of remarks about the shootings that took place in Spain in recent days. Those are live police investigations, so I am not able to comment on the particular issues that are being pursued by the Spanish authorities. However, I say to Parliament that any individual who is involved in criminal activity, no matter their age, must be aware of the severity of the punishments that exist.”
“Senior Police Scotland officers say that under-25 sentencing guidelines are part of the problem. Detective Superintendent Andy Patrick said: “Organised crime groups are exploiting this policy. They are coercing young and vulnerable people to carry out some of these crimes because they’re under reduced risk of imprisonment.” Will John Swinney rethink his Government’s support of those damaging guidelines? The First Minister: Not for the first time, Presiding Officer, I cannot allow Mr Findlay’s remarks about the under-25 sentencing guidelines to stand. It is misleading to say to members of the public that there are no consequences for criminal activity by those under the age of 25, because there are. There are very serious consequences, which involve imprisonment.”
“Indeed, the serious organised crime strategy was published in February 2022, updating the actions that the Government is taking. Russell Findlay: The First Minister talks about the prisons being safe—tell that to the 10 prison officers whose cars have been firebombed outside Scotland’s prisons by organised crime gangs that are fighting for control of the drugs trade inside Scotland’s prisons. There is a dangerous complacency to this Government’s approach. We need to stop crime bosses exploiting vulnerable young people. The two men who were shot dead in Spain were groomed for a life of crime. Most of their gang associates are dead or in prison, and now there is an official policy in place that makes young people even more vulnerable to exploitation.”
“The second flaw in Mr Findlay’s argument is in the fact that this Government established the Scottish crime campus, which is viewed across the world as one of the most innovative and successful measures in bringing together all the intelligence gathering services—whether that is Police Scotland, the National Crime Agency or the United Kingdom’s enforcement authorities—in one place. Indeed, it is visited by people from around the world, because it is a leader. The third thing is that Mr Findlay said that we never talk about these things. Three times a year, the Government brings together the serious organised crime task force, which involves local authorities, the national health service, Police Scotland, the National Crime Agency, His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and various other organisations, to ensure that we tackle the issue.”
“The first flaw is that a very high number of participants in organised crime activity are currently incarcerated for a very long time in Scotland’s jails, which is contributing to the significant congestion in our prison system. One of the operational challenges for the Scottish Prison Service—which is why I admire its work so strongly—is that it has to ensure that our prisons remain safe internally. A number of members of organised crime groups are housed in our prisons, and they cannot be housed together, as that would risk the internal stability in our prisons. That is the type of focused work that the Scottish Prison Service is taking forward.”
“I got into politics because I could not understand why politicians do not talk about the malevolent reach and devastating harm of organised crime. Local front-line policing is absolutely critical. The Scottish Police Federation has said: “The bottom line is the intelligence on organised crime groups ... and terrorism comes from the communities. If you don’t have community police officers out there patrolling and picking up on that intelligence, then they’re missing out on so much.” However, under the SNP, officer numbers have fallen by nearly 1,000. Does John Swinney accept front-line officers’ view that his Government’s decision to reduce police numbers inevitably fuels organised crime? The First Minister: There are quite a number of flaws in the argument that Russell Findlay has put forward.”
“There was an awful lot in what Mr Findlay said with which I agree. Organised crime is intolerable and unacceptable. It requires the forensic attention of our police and criminal justice authorities to tackle it. That is being undertaken in Scotland relentlessly by Police Scotland and by the criminal justice authorities. I expect the authorities to pursue that level of scrutiny and activity, which is what is happening. However, I do not agree with Mr Findlay’s conclusion. Russell Findlay: John Swinney says that he agrees about the seriousness of organised crime, but, under successive Scottish National Party and Labour Governments, organised crime has rarely been on the agenda. It was not even mentioned in the Scottish Government’s flagship five-year justice strategy—not even once.”
“The Presiding Officer: That concludes First Minister’s question time. There will be a short suspension to allow those leaving the chamber and the gallery to do so. 12:46 Meeting suspended. 12:50 On resuming— Bosnian Genocide in Srebrenica (30th Anniversary)”
“We are taking a number of steps to expand capacity in mental health services. For example, we have exceeded our commitment to fund more than 800 additional mental health workers in various locations, including accident and emergency departments, general practitioner practices and other public sector facilities. We are also supporting the expansion of community-based support. Since 2020, we have invested more than £145 million in community ventures to support young people. In addition, nearly 83,000 children, young people and their family members accessed community-based mental health support between July 2023 and March 2024. That indicates that we are building capacity to ensure that the mental health needs of the population are effectively addressed in community settings around the country.”
“I hope that the UK Government takes a different course of action, because we are committed to eradicating child poverty, and it would be helpful—after all the years of austerity and the damage that has been done by the Conservatives—if the Labour Government could help us in our work to eradicate child poverty. Mental Health Services (Police Scotland)”
“It is important that all Governments across the UK take action to eradicate child poverty, which is the focus of my Government. We have put in place the Scottish child payment, which will increase this year. We have also taken the decision to abolish the two-child limit, which is an important step in lifting children out of poverty. When I met the Prime Minister on Friday, my plea to him was that the UK Government should act in a way that assists us in our endeavour to eradicate such poverty. I am concerned that the steps that are being taken on welfare reform will throw more children into poverty.”
“Indeed, its budget has increased by £97 million since 2017-18. Therefore, the Government has been investing in the service, but, from time to time, the SFRS needs to explore how its resources can be deployed properly. It will do that in a professional way while protecting public safety. Child Poverty (United Kingdom Government Strategy)”
“The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service intends to undertake a consultation on various aspects of service redesign, which it will conduct through engagement. Twenty-three service delivery review options are being considered as part of a full public consultation that will commence at the end of June 2025. Rachael Hamilton’s points can be considered as part of that consultation. It is important that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service adopts a sustainable approach to fire and rescue cover, which will vary around the country based on the number of incidents and the level of risk in particular localities. The SFRS will carry out the consultation in a professional manner. On the financial aspects, the Government has increased the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s budget for this financial year by £18.1 million.”
“On Friday, I was in London, where I met the Prime Minister. Of all the things that he said to me and the leaders of other devolved Governments that day, I cannot compliment enough his resolution in support of Ukraine. I applaud the Prime Minister for his resolute support. He speaks on behalf of the Scottish Parliament when he highlights the importance of our standing up to Russian aggression, protecting Ukraine and securing its future. We will stand steadfast with the people of Ukraine in that regard. Hawick”
“On Tuesday evening, along with Richard Lochhead, the Minister for Business, I had the enormous pleasure of meeting a delegation of mayors from Ukraine who had come to Scotland to sign a trade agreement and to encourage collaboration. On Wednesday, the agreement was signed by the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Angus Robertson, on behalf of the Scottish Government. That dialogue has been encouraged and enabled by the work of the Parliament’s cross-party group on Ukraine, of which Mr Beattie is the convener. I am grateful to that group for its support. The agreement is one example of how we can establish further co-operation and collaboration with Ukraine as it tries to recover from an illegal invasion. It is also an opportunity for me to indicate our resolute support for Ukraine’s people.”