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.”
The complete record
Every one of 2,608 lines we hold for John Swinney, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 42 of 53.
“Will he look at the action being taken by a United Kingdom Labour Government, and which is now being proposed in Canada, Australia and other parts of the world, to really drive up housing supply? The First Minister: Let me reassure Mr Griffin that the Government is not spending all its time reviewing the affordable housing supply programme target; it is spending its time making sure that more houses are available for occupation by individuals in temporary accommodation or facing homelessness. The actions of the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and the Minister for Housing in making more resources available to local authorities to tackle void accommodation are having an impact on the availability of accommodation in the city of Edinburgh as we speak. We have pivoted in our policy to ensure that more accommodation can be available.”
“Mark Griffin: The reality of the housing emergency in Scotland is that local authorities such as the City of Edinburgh Council have been left in an impossible position. They are routinely breaching their legal obligations and are now having to take emergency measures, and all of that is having huge impacts on families in desperate need of an appropriate home. The Scottish Government has been reviewing the affordable housing supply programme target for more than a year, instead of focusing on building those houses. Will the Government commit to building those 110,000 homes in the final programme for government, as it did in the first? Does he recognise that a lack of supply across all tenures is driving the housing emergency?”
“I am aware of the City of Edinburgh Council’s recent announcement on the issue. The emergency measure taken by the council will redirect all available council-owned housing stock to people who are experiencing homelessness, with the exception of those with a disability with gold priority for housing or those who are awaiting discharge from hospital. It will be essential to monitor the impact of that temporary measure, as the council seeks to fulfil its legal responsibilities as well as reduce the use of unsuitable temporary accommodation in the city. The Government will continue to deliver our investment of £768 million in affordable housing this year, the majority of which will be for social rent.”
“I would stress the importance of seeing a range of different interventions, some of which are assisted by the counselling services in schools that the Government has funded. We continue to provide £16 million a year to local authorities to ensure that there are counselling services in every secondary school in Scotland, and we are maintaining financial support through the mental health assistance that we have in place. All those factors are contributing to addressing the issues that Mr Mountain has put to me.”
“Does the First Minister consider it acceptable that some children will go through their entire school career waiting for an assessment, or that parents will have to fund private care to ensure that their children get the most from their schooling? The First Minister: As Mr Mountain will know, NHS Highland was supported with funding for a time-limited test of change, which has concluded, as I said earlier. A new neurodevelopmental pathway is in development with local partners to address exactly the issues that Mr Mountain has put to me. I encourage NHS Highland to progress that work, using the £7.1 million of funding that it receives as part of the overall funding given to national health service boards by the Scottish Government to support neurodevelopmental services.”
“Following development of the neurodevelopmental specification, which aims to ensure that children and families receive timely support that meets their needs, the Scottish Government has provided £1 million of funding across Highland, Fife, East Lothian, Aberdeen city and Forth Valley for projects to test and support implementation. A report on the five tests of change will be published this summer. Edward Mountain: Not imminently, then. In the Highlands, we have a situation in which the health board has a neurodevelopment assessment waiting list of 1,958 young children— four times greater than it was three years ago. NHS Highland says that some children will have to wait in excess of five years even to get an assessment, and that it will take some 15 years to fully clear the existing waiting list.”
“The programme for government will set out additional measures that the Scottish Government will take to build resilience in the Scottish economy, to support our economy to have an international focus and outlook, and to make sure that we support and encourage innovation in the Scottish economy, which is the route to success for”
“Does the First Minister agree that abandoning those measures is key to unlocking greater investment in our economy, and can he speak to the actions that his Government is taking to stimulate growth? The First Minister: The United Kingdom Government has taken on fiscal targets that it inherited from the Conservatives and which are enormously damaging to a growth agenda, and it has compounded that error with the increase in employer national insurance contributions, which will be a further depressant on growth in the economy. The conflict and contradiction between the rhetoric on growth and the reality of decision making is becoming ever more apparent, because of the global economic challenges that we face.”
“The EY ITEM club forecast reflects the negative impacts that global trade disruption and uncertainty will have on the economy, highlighting the need to commit ourselves to Europe and its single market. We will continue to do all that we can to support businesses and households through those challenges. Our programme for government will focus on delivery, including targeted initiatives to boost Scotland’s economic prospects now and for the long term, particularly sustainable and renewable energy resources, to draw in new investment and create rewarding and well-paid jobs. Jackie Dunbar: It is becoming increasingly clear to the Chancellor of the Exchequer that we cannot cut our way to growth, and the Labour Government must urgently abandon its tax on jobs and the austerity fiscal rules under which it is operating.”
“I simply say to Lorna Slater that I understand— and share—her passion and determination to make progress on the climate agenda, and that it is at the heart of the Government’s priorities. However, we must also recognise the formidable financial commitments that have been made to decarbonise heating systems in the homes of our constituents and ensure that, through that mechanism, we contribute to reducing their effect on the climate. That will be at the heart of the Government’s agenda as we move forward. Economic Growth (Implications of EY ITEM Club Spring Forecast) 4.”
“What new action will next week’s programme for government contain to reduce our sky-high energy bills and achieve the rapid cut that is needed in the use of fossil fuels? The First Minister: Obviously, the details of the programme for government will be set out next Tuesday, but we have already given a commitment to the introduction of the heat in buildings legislation, which will be introduced in this parliamentary session to support us in our efforts. We have also committed to investing, in this current budget year, £300 million in the heat in buildings programmes, which will increase energy efficiency and provide financial support to do exactly what Lorna Slater has put to me. That comes alongside more than £1.63 billion of funding through our heat in buildings schemes in this parliamentary session so far.”
“The Government has examined and explored a range of different options to support the development of our policy. We will continue to do that as we work, as part of our climate agenda, to reduce car use and to increase the reliance of members of the public on public transport. Lorna Slater: Scotland simply cannot afford any more broken promises on climate issues. Economists have found that, if we do not act now, Scotland could be up to £140 billion poorer by 2035. Through their soaring energy bills, people have been paying the price for a lack of progress on insulating our homes and moving away from expensive gas heating. There is no route to net zero by 2045 that does not involve making our homes warmer and cheaper to heat by insulating them and replacing gas heating systems. Bold action is needed on climate to get Scotland back on track.”
“As is well understood, there are significant challenges in our meeting the car-use reduction target, and that issue is being considered by the Government at this time. It is important that I set out the range of other measures that the Government is taking to invest in supporting the use of public transport, which is our way out of the challenges that we face on the issue. One of those investments is the support for the concessionary travel scheme, which is now much more extensively available, since we expanded it—with the support of our colleagues in the Green Party—to under-22s. We have also invested significantly in active travel, with support sustained in the Government’s budget, which attracted support in Parliament earlier this year, to ensure that we address the necessity of changing the priorities of individuals.”
“A variety of pathways enable that to be the case, and ministers will continue to focus on delivering the services that young people need in our country. Car Use (Reduction) 3.”
“It is absolutely critical that I make that point to Parliament today, because there are pathways that are available other than those involving a diagnosis for ADHD or a neurodiversity condition that enable young people to attract the support that will assist them in meeting the challenges that they face. It is vital that I convey that message at First Minister’s question time today, so that parents can be reassured that there is support available to meet the needs of individual young people. The Government is making a range of interventions. We are expanding mental health support and supporting the development of community interventions, and we are working to ensure that young people get support at the earliest possible opportunity.”
“Michael was a member of the Scottish National Party and campaigned for it to be in government, but he told me that it should now hang its head in shame, as it has let Scotland down. Speaking of his son, he said: “Everyone’s saying he needs this diagnosis, he’s autistic. Everyone’s sure of it but at the same time he needs an official NHS diagnosis to get the resources he needs.” Rod Stewart heard that heartbreaking story and has stepped in to pay for Iain’s diagnosis. Others will not be as lucky. Why, on John Swinney’s watch, do young Scots have to rely on the charity of a rock star to get the treatment that they need? The First Minister: It is not the case that a diagnosis is necessary for young people to get support.”
“The overall CAMHS waiting list decreased by 20.9 per cent in the previous year and that progress has continued in the latest quarter. The Government will be focused on ensuring that the support that is necessary for individual young people is available to them, and that the right pathway is put in place to meet the needs of every young person in Scotland. That is the commitment that I give to Parliament today, and that is the foundation of the Government’s approach in that respect. Anas Sarwar: Let us talk about one of the parents. Michael Gregori is a father from Dumfries. His son Iain was one year old when a health worker told Michael that Iain could be autistic and recommended a national health service diagnosis. Three years on, Iain is still non-verbal and is still waiting on a diagnosis.”
“Why does John Swinney think that it is acceptable to mislead the public about our young people and their mental health treatment? The First Minister: That is not what we are doing. We are focusing on ensuring that support is in place in communities the length and breadth of the country. It is often the case that CAMHS is simply not the correct service for children who are seeking a diagnosis for a neurodevelopmental condition such as autism or ADHD, unless they have a co- existing mental health condition. That is the key point that I need to get across to reassure parents, who will be anxious about the issues that Mr Sarwar raises. As he knows, we have made progress on the CAMHS waiting lists in the past year.”
“Anas Sarwar: The situation is so bad that today’s Daily Record reports that Rod Stewart has offered to step in and pay for a young Scot to access the care that he needs. The SNP claims that it is meeting its target for 90 per cent of children and young people to start mental health treatment within 18 weeks, but we can reveal that it is fudging the numbers and that things are much worse than it is letting on. Some health boards are now counting an initial assessment as treatment when, in fact, young people may still be waiting for months or years for their actual treatment to start, and health boards are now removing diagnoses of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder from child and adolescent mental health services waiting lists. The SNP is fiddling the figures.”
“I am very happy to address the particular case that Mr Sarwar raises with me and to say—which he knows from my previous answers—that, in general, we are working to reduce waiting times for individuals to access treatment across the health service in Scotland, and we are making progress in a number of areas in relation to that objective. He will also know that the Government has delivered increased investment in mental health support to expand capacity to meet young people’s developing needs. I want to ensure that our investments are well targeted in order to address the issues that Mr Sarwar has raised. That is why we increased the funding for mental health support, and that is why we are putting in place assistance around the country.”
“In collaboration with the UK Government and Petroineos, we will progress our work to explore alternative business ideas for developing the Grangemouth site so that it could contribute to our net zero agenda. An early decision on the Acorn carbon capture and storage project would help us to advance those efforts significantly. Russell Findlay: The SNP used to say, “It’s Scotland’s oil.” Now, it wants to just stop oil. Nicola Sturgeon opposed the development of Cambo oilfield, and Humza Yousaf opposed Rosebank even though such opposition will result in higher energy prices and greater reliance on foreign imports. John Swinney personally brought the Greens into government. These dangerous fanatics want to shut down all oil and gas production. [Interruption.]”
“First, I express my support for and solidarity with all those in the Grangemouth workforce who face the prospect of losing their employment as a consequence of Petroineos’s decision to stop refining there. The company itself has come to that decision. As Mr Findlay will know from what I have said previously, I judge the decision to be premature, because there is an on-going need for refining activity. Indeed, such activity will take place in other parts of the United Kingdom, despite the issues that Grangemouth faces. As we have been doing with Unite the union, the Scottish Government will continue to work closely with the workforce at Grangemouth to support the individuals who are affected.”
“Those are complex corporate decisions that are being arrived at. As we do in all such circumstances, we will offer the engagement of the Deputy First Minister and Scottish Enterprise to determine whether there are any steps that we can take to assist in relation to the legitimate points that Mr Johnson puts to me about the importance of retaining headquarters functions and the effectiveness of those organisations in Scotland. We will engage on that basis. The Presiding Officer: That concludes First Minister’s question time. There will be a short suspension to allow those who are leaving the public gallery and the chamber to do so. 12:45 Meeting suspended. 12:46 On resuming— BBC Scotland (River City and Dumbarton Studios)”
“I am deeply concerned about the cuts to the sickness and disability benefits that the United Kingdom Government has announced. Indeed, I referred to them in my earlier answers to Anas Sarwar. The changes will push 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, into poverty by the end of this decade and will reduce the funding that Scotland receives for devolved disability benefits. Parliament had an opportunity yesterday to express its firm opinion on those commitments. The Government expressed our opposition to the changes and I am staggered that Scottish Labour MSPs supported the cuts, but that tells us all that we need to know—the Labour Party is in favour of continuing austerity and inflicting damage on the population of Scotland, while this Government will stand to take actions to reduce poverty and support the population in Scotland.”
“I join Roz McCall in endorsing that approach and I welcome the comments that she has made to Parliament today. The central point that Roz McCall makes about early intervention and assessment is really important. Some of the fantastic work that can be done in relation to ophthalmology services is an illustration of early intervention having significant benefits. I very much endorse the points that Roz McCall has made and I wish her and her constituents well. I am glad to hear that they are being well supported by the national health service—I would expect nothing else. If any issues arise in the course of their journey, the health secretary will be happy to assist in any way that he can. Disability Benefits (United Kingdom Government)”
“The Government will engage with Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, which does fantastic work in raising awareness on all of those questions. We support a range of prescribing routes for COPD, and the national centre for sustainable delivery is working with COPD patients to develop new treatment pathways. We are taking forward a variety of policy measures, including some wider societal policies, such as low-emission zones, which aim to assist in improving air quality and which will be of benefit to individuals with COPD. Our respiratory care action plan sets out how we are working to improve prevention, diagnosis, care, treatment and support. The Government will, of course, be happy to engage further with Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland and with patients to determine what further steps we can take.”
“As Jackie Dunbar and the Parliament will know, the Government does not support energy production from nuclear power. We believe that the investment that is necessary in our energy networks will be more cost effective if it is invested in renewable energy. I am reminded that Hinkley Point C, which is a new nuclear power station, is now projected to cost up to £46 billion, which is more than double the original cost estimate. There are opportunities for us to deliver energy security for our country through a variety of renewable energy interventions, through offshore wind, through pump storage and through various other technologies. That will certainly be the position that is adopted by the Scottish Government. Respiratory”
“As part of that settlement, we specifically agreed an additional £29 million of funding in the budget, which is to be allocated through local authorities in response to the legitimate issues that Pam Duncan-Glancy has put to me today. I assure Pam Duncan-Glancy and those on whose behalf she speaks today of the importance that we attach to the issue. We are working with local authorities to ensure that the needs of every child are met, and that will continue to be our approach.”
“I recognise the importance of ensuring that the needs of every child are met in our education system. For some young people with additional support needs, that can be achieved in mainstream education. For others, that is not possible, and those judgments should be made on the assessed needs of every individual child. The Government works closely with our local authority partners in delivering on those objectives. In the past financial year, more than £1 billion has been spent by local authorities on additional support for learning. However, in its latest budget settlement, the Government recognised the significance of the demand for services.”
“If there is a need for a personal meeting with me, I will of course be happy to have that, but I assure Mr Hoy that the issue is being advanced with urgency by the cabinet secretary. Additional”
“I am grateful to Mr Hoy for raising this important issue. On Tuesday, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care met some of the families who are involved in the efforts that Mr Hoy has drawn to the attention of the Parliament. Yesterday, the cabinet secretary met four health boards that are involved in providing services to children with the condition, to discuss what is needed to enable delivery of the medicine in a way that is safe but also ensures fair and equitable access at pace across the country. Very active work is under way to deliver on the expectations of Mr Hoy and his constituents. We are very sympathetic and are trying to get there as fast as possible. The engagement that the cabinet secretary has had so far is perhaps sufficient.”
“Those principles are at the heart of the legislation that this Government brought to Parliament, and I am pleased that we continue to apply them as we deliver the type of social security system that benefits and supports the individuals in Scotland who are most in need at the moment. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (Givinostat)”
“I am very pleased to confirm to the Parliament that the pension age disability payment was launched on Tuesday. It will pay up to £441 a month extra to disabled people who are over state pension age. We estimate that it will help more than 170,000 disabled people and people living with a long-term health condition who need help looking after themselves or supervision to stay safe. The launch of the payment ensures that disabled people of all age groups in Scotland are now able to receive support from a social security system that is based on dignity, fairness and respect.”
“The First Minister: As I indicated in my earlier answer, I cannot go into details on the handling of a live planning appeal. All relevant information will be considered by ministers in coming to a determination on the issue. That determination will be arrived at as soon as it is practically possible to do so.”
“The Scottish Government is giving full and proper consideration to the appeal, and every effort is being made to issue a decision as soon as possible. It would not be appropriate for me to say any more in relation to what is a live planning case. Ariane Burgess: The industrial salmon farm development that is proposed for Loch Long will scar the loch’s coastline and harm its wildlife. It has been opposed by the community, the local planning authority and even the industry. However, we have now been waiting over a year for the Government’s response after the application was called in. More than 4,000 people have written to the Government asking it to protect Loch Long from this damaging development. Will the First Minister personally ensure that my constituents’ voices are listened to?”
“The First Minister: I give Pam Gosal the assurance that we will develop that guidance in a timely manner. As I said in my opening answer, there is a meeting today with the Equality and Human Rights Commission, whose advice we relied on for the previous guidance that we had in place and whose advice and guidance we will have to rely on in the future. The Government will report to Parliament about the progress that has been made in that respect. However, I recognise the need for us to put in place timely guidance to apply the judgment that the Supreme Court has arrived at.”
“Pam Gosal: As I mentioned earlier this week, I was honoured to attend and witness the United Kingdom Supreme Court’s judgment, which provided clarity on what a woman is. However, some members in the chamber refuse to accept it. Although it is now the law that biological sex trumps gender identity, self-identification remains central to the Scottish National Party Government. That is the same SNP Government that presided over public bodies suspending nurses for refusing to share changing rooms with biologically male colleagues and allowing dangerous male prisoners to be sent to women’s prisons. Public bodies need clarity. Every day of delay risks further uncertainty. Can the First Minister give me a clear answer? When will the SNP Government issue new guidance on compliance with the Supreme Court’s judgment?”
“The Scottish Government accepts the Supreme Court’s judgment. This Government is committed to protecting every woman’s rights, including through effective implementation of the public sector equality duty. We continue to take forward a phased programme of improvement to the operation of the public sector equality duty in Scotland and, in that work, will consider the impact of the Supreme Court’s ruling. The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice will meet the Equality and Human Rights Commission later today and seek an update on the timing of its revised guidance, which is essential to fulfilling the statutory underpinnings of the approach that we take.”
“We will reflect on the substantive points that Christine Grahame has made and consider how we can make sure that we have that provision available in all communities in Scotland. That is what the Government is funding through the local authority settlement that we put in place.”
“The First Minister: Christine Grahame makes a compelling argument. The Government has been working with our local authority partners to ensure that young people are able to get the best start to their early years education and that there is a natural progression into the school. That is at the heart of the reforms on early learning and childcare. In primary 1 in many schools, and in primary 2 in some schools, there will still be a play-based curriculum, which has been the foundation of the early years experience for three and four-year-olds and for some two-year-olds. The structural point that Christine Grahame makes about the school is also a structural point about the curriculum and the approach that we take to giving young people the best start in life.”
“Many of them are physically attached to primary schools, such as those in Channelkirk and Walkerburn in my constituency. They are just through a doorway, so that the school and nursery are actually as one. Children have the same teacher and headteacher, and nursery children share mealtimes with the primary pupils, so transition and integration are simply not an issue— the children just move next door. It is my belief, for educational and social reasons as well as because of the need to sustain the primary schools and the wider community, that in such circumstances, those particular nurseries require added protection. I am pleased to hear what the First Minister says. Given what I have said, in the review of the guidance, will he consider including additional criteria for retaining nurseries that form part of the school?”
“The Scottish Government recognises the vital role that rural schools and early years provision play in sustaining local communities. Responsibility for decisions about local provisions rests with local authorities. Any closure, temporary or permanent, should be considered in consultation with local communities. We are reviewing guidance on mothballing to provide greater clarity on whether it is an appropriate action to take. That will ensure that local decisions are based on effective engagement with the community, better reflect the needs of rural families and help to maintain access to early learning in such communities. Christine Grahame: Across Scotland, rural nurseries—including seven in the Scottish Borders—are threatened with so-called mothballing.”
“The Government has delivered its side of the bargain in relation to financial support to local authorities, and I look to local authorities to recruit. There is co-operation through the strategic board for teacher education, which explores the issues around recruitment and addresses some of the challenges. The bursary scheme came as a consequence of practical endeavour by the Government to address those issues. I assure Mr Cole-Hamilton that there is no lack of energy in Government to ensure that our schools are well supported with the recruitment of teachers to meet the needs of children and young people in Scotland. Rural Nursery and Primary School Closures 4.”
“The First Minister: I agree with Mr Cole- Hamilton about the economic challenges that we face as a consequence of the decisions of the Trump Administration and the volatility that has flowed from that. That is why I gathered together a range of stakeholders during the Easter recess to ensure that the Government is well sighted on the issues that individual sectors are facing as a consequence of the unwelcome changes in international trading arrangements, which generate a great deal of volatility. In relation to the points on education, we will work with our local authority partners to increase teacher numbers. That was one of the central commitments made in the budget that we negotiated with our local authority colleagues.”
“Where are the hunger and the passion to resolve that? Also, it is not just maths—chemistry, physics and biology are each hundreds of trainee teachers short. The Government says that there “is an economic urgency to address” our digital skills shortage, yet it is training only 16 computing teachers this year—I repeat, 16—for the whole of Scotland. We need home-grown skills if we are going to lead in industries such as renewables, artificial intelligence, defence and precision medicine. In this volatile world, amid the economic fire- storm of the Trump presidency, Scotland’s people are our biggest asset. How are we going to compete if our schools cannot teach those subjects properly because they just do not have the teachers?”
“For example, the teaching bursary scheme provides a £20,000 bursary to career changers, which is aimed particularly at individuals who aspire to be maths teachers. We recognised that, if people were leaving jobs in other sectors to go into teaching, we had to provide a mechanism to enable them to do so, and those mechanisms have been made available. The Government provides more than £186 million to support the recruitment and retention of teachers, to ensure that we reach 2023 levels in our local authority employment of teachers. The Government is working in partnership with local authorities to ensure that we achieve that objective. Alex Cole-Hamilton: It is clearly not working. Although that was a predictably managerial reply from the First Minister, we are talking about our kids and their futures.”
“First, I am glad that I have been relieved of the burden of trying, on a weekly basis, to remember when the Cabinet meets. I also welcome Jamie Greene to his position on the Liberal Democrat benches. I am not at all surprised to see him there. He looked decidedly uncomfortable on the Conservative benches for an awfully long time—like many others, I dare say. [Interruption.] Listen—[Laughter.] I am very happy about it all. The Presiding Officer: Thank you, members. Let us hear one another. The First Minister: On the substantive point that Mr Cole-Hamilton puts to me, there are challenges in the recruitment of teachers to particular specialisms. The Government has acknowledged that in the steps that we have taken.”
“I invite Parliament to think about that point for just one moment. A Labour Government has come into office and poverty is going to rise. That demonstrates that there is no point in the Labour Party, because Labour delivers poverty and austerity to the people of Scotland when the SNP Government is reducing child poverty in this country. I will take that to the country and be proud of our record. Teacher Numbers 3.”
“Is it not the truth that we will tackle division and disengagement only if we have a Scottish Government that serves the people of Scotland and that the only way to deliver that is to remove the SNP from power? The First Minister: Let us take a moment to see how the most recent change-of-Government process went in the United Kingdom. Last summer, the Labour Government was elected on a commitment to end austerity and to deliver change. What has the Labour Government done? The Labour Government has delivered a continuation—[Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: Let us hear one another. The First Minister: —of austerity. I cannot believe that the Labour Party is comfortable with the fact that its United Kingdom Government is going to deliver welfare reforms that will increase poverty levels in the United Kingdom.”
“After nearly two decades of the SNP being in power, if it had a plan to improve the lives of Scots, we would have seen it by now. Research from Carnegie UK has revealed that 63 per cent of Scots feel that they cannot influence decisions in Scotland and that almost 40 per cent of Scots have low trust in MSPs. From ferries that do not sail to astronomical levels of public money wasted, is it any wonder that the SNP Government delivers nothing and tells Scots to be happy about it? The fact is that the SNP Government has lost its way and is out of steam. It is responsible for divisive politics in our country, so it cannot be the one to sort it.”