Murdo Fraser
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party · Scotland
“This has been quite a lively debate so far. I might take a slightly more sympathetic approach to Reform than other colleagues who have spoken. To be fair to Reform members, they have been on a steep learning curve in relation to how they approach debates in the Parliament.”
“After all the promises that were made about Reform members coming in to shake this place up, they cannot even get the basics right. If these are the foxes in the hen house, the chickens will be sleeping pretty safely tonight. That seems reflected in Reform’s most recent electoral performances.”
“I will make what I hope is a constructive suggestion, which is that it would be more helpful to have a debate on any one of those topics to allow us time to discuss the issues in detail. We will all be here for another five years, so Angela Ross should not fire all her bullets at once.”
“Murdo Fraser: I will give way in a second. The only things that have been left out are the NHS and justice. Virtually every topic in the remit of the Parliament is covered in the motion, as are some topics that are not in the remit of the Parliament.”
“Most significantly of all, we had a superb Conservative victory in the Aberdeen South constituency, with my good friend Douglas Lumsden winning just shy of 50 per cent of the vote—a massive swing from the SNP. Reform received just 2,478 votes, or 8.6 per cent of the total.”
“He will know that there is a necessity in the case of individual judgments for those involved to consider whether there is any basis on which an appeal should be mounted in a particular case.”
The complete record
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“I thank the minister for advance sight of his statement. The concept of community wealth building is widely supported in relation to its potential benefits to local economies. A bit like the term “wellbeing economy”, however, “community wealth building” means different things to different people. We might, therefore, have hoped for more clarity from the Government today as to what exactly it is planning to do in this space. Instead, we have heard a statement that was very long on words but woefully short on any practical proposals or detail. In an effort to get some detail, I will ask three specific questions. First, the minister said in his statement that this “is a clear economic policy”, but he went on to say that people who asked what community wealth building is would “get two answers from” him. Well, what is the answer?”
“I entirely understand the Government’s reluctance to comment on a live criminal case—particularly a criminal case that involves a jury, which might be swayed by comments that are made in Parliament. However, this is not a criminal case but a civil case that is being determined by a very experienced employment specialist judge. Other than cowardice, there is no barrier to or risk of prejudice from a minister in this Government speaking on the broader issue of access to single- sex rights. Jamie Hepburn: There speaks the voice of inexperience—sub judice relates not just to criminal cases but to civil cases. That is an absolute nonsense from Mr Fraser. It is a live case, and there will be a tribunal, so we need to be careful about what we say, and I will say no more in relation to that matter.”
“Fundamentally, the issue comes back to the door of the Scottish Government. It has to step up and ensure that councils have the support so that we do not lose those vital local resources, which we all agree must remain. 18:13”
“I will respond to Mr McKee’s intervention on Tim Eagle about money. I read today that the cost of the new Barlinnie prison in Glasgow has now gone up to £1 billion—a tenfold increase on the original estimate. If the Scottish Government perhaps looked a little more carefully at where it is spending its money, we would find a little extra money for local councils to support their libraries. I do not think that Perth and Kinross Council can hide behind a group such as Culture Perth and Kinross, which is an arm’s-length external organisation that is wholly funded by that council. Councillors must take responsibility and ensure that there is adequate funding to support libraries. I hope that the SNP-led administration on Perth and Kinross Council will listen to the campaigners and take the right decisions to ensure that funding is provided.”
“Tim Eagle, drawing on his experience as a local councillor in Moray, made the fair point that no councillor anywhere in Scotland wants to close a library. The fundamental issue comes back to the budget settlement that is given to local councils by the Scottish Government. I will not rehearse all the arguments that I made yesterday in the budget debate, but we are in a situation in which, despite the Westminster block grant being at a record level, councils across Scotland are having to make very difficult decisions about cutting services such as local libraries and, at the same time, talking about unprecedented increases in council tax—10 per cent or more in different parts of Scotland. Clearly, something is not right, and I am afraid that it comes back to the door of the SNP Government.”
“I will not repeat everything that we have heard, because I agree with pretty much everything that has been said. Libraries are not just sources of learning but important community assets—community spaces that host a variety of events. Let us not forget that, at a time when older people in particular are suffering from isolation, loneliness and increasing fuel costs, libraries are warm spaces where they and people who otherwise might be trapped at home alone can gather, meet and have human company. That should not be underestimated. What is this all about? I must disagree gently with Karen Adam, because I do not think that the matter is down to the choices of individual local councils. In my area, the SNP run Perth and Kinross Council; in her area, Aberdeenshire Council has a Conservative administration.”
“I congratulate Mark Ruskell on securing the debate. He and I spoke a few weeks ago at the rally to which he and Liz Smith referred, when more than 300 people stood in sub-zero temperatures in the centre of Perth in support of libraries. I pay tribute to the many campaigners there, and to others from other parts of Scotland, who have come to the cause to fight for their local libraries. Like Liz Smith, I have received a huge volume of correspondence from constituents. In fact, I cannot think of an issue over the past few weeks that has generated more correspondence than that of library closures in Perth and Kinross. I pay tribute to the save Alyth library and save Birnam library campaigns for their helpful briefing for the debate. We have heard a lot in the debate about the value of libraries.”
“I love it because its presence in a town or a city reminds us that there are things above profit, things that profit knows nothing about, things that have the power to baffle the greedy ghost of market fundamentalism.” The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr Leonard. Even with the intervention, that would not have come in at four minutes. 17:49”
“Finally, I was struck, when I visited Falkirk central library on Monday, that libraries in this century are about not just books but the spoken word, free computer access, bus passes, local history, football memories, Lego sessions, the lending out of jigsaw puzzles, free home library services for people who have difficulty getting out and about, a musical instrument library and a bookbug session, all in the one library— The Deputy Presiding Officer: You need to conclude. Richard Leonard: Let me finish with the words of the author Philip Pullman— The Deputy Presiding Officer: Briefly. Richard Leonard: He said: “I love the public library service for what it did for me as a child, and as a student, and as an adult.”
“I admire Richard Leonard’s praise for Nye Bevan and other socialists. However, would he recognise the role that capitalist entrepreneurs and philanthropists such as Andrew Carnegie played in providing libraries that were free for working people? Richard Leonard: Well, I have a certain view about Andrew Carnegie and the part that he played in a steel dispute in America in the 19th century—but that is perhaps for another day. Let me return to the municipal road to socialism. Libraries were a burning flame of knowledge. They symbolised that change was possible. They came to represent an understanding that progress is not simply measured by material conditions alone and that you can rise with your class, not out of your class. It is an idea that is in danger of being extinguished.”
“My ambition is for the enterprise agencies to focus more on what they are able to distribute rather than on expanding themselves, because the role of enterprise agencies is to be the front line of support for industry and business. Postgraduate Business School (Proposal) 7.”
“As Colin Smyth said, we are seeing a 15 per cent cut in the Scottish Government’s funding for SOSE in its budget for the year ahead, compared to the funding from last year. If it is such a valuable organisation, why is its funding being cut? Kate Forbes: These questions are starting to sound a little like groundhog day, because we have written to Murdo Fraser. I am happy to write to him once again to outline the fact that he is not comparing like with like. As I set out in my answer to Colin Smyth, both the resource funding and the capital funding that are allocated to South of Scotland Enterprise in 2025-26 reflect an increase in funding compared to 2024-25.”
“We might be the only party here voting against the SNP’s budget but, in so doing, we will be representing the interests of the Scottish people. 16:50”
“When it comes to personal taxation, there has been no greater divergence from tax rates payable elsewhere in the UK than where the budget bakes in higher taxes that are payable by nearly half the workers in Scotland. The finance secretary says, “Well, some workers are better off”, but they are better off only to the tune of £1.21 per month—not even the cost of a first-class stamp. As the Liberal Democrats and Greens support this budget and Labour sits on its hands, it is left to the Scottish Conservatives to provide the only opposition. We are very clear that we will not support a budget that, despite a record uplift in the Westminster block grant, will do nothing to help grow the economy, will deliver cuts to local services and higher council tax bills, and will continue spending to promote the cause of independence.”
“Murdo Fraser: What we do not want to see are those offices being used by Mr Robertson to promote the cause of independence around the globe, which is what has been happening. We have an excellent network of trade offices run by UK Trade & Investment, and we should be utilising those. [Interruption.] The Deputy Presiding Officer: Let us listen to Mr Fraser. Murdo Fraser: Then, of course, the SNP took the decision not to pass on the Barnett consequentials for the 40 per cent rates relief for retail, hospitality and leisure that is available south of the border, as Pam Gosal reminded us, meaning that hospitality in Scotland has a much less generous package than is available elsewhere in the United Kingdom.”
“Perhaps he could have got some more concessions had he worked a little harder. Now that, just like the Grammys, the drama is over, let us look at exactly what is on offer from the largest financial settlement in the history of devolution—a budget that was supposed to be about growing the economy. We have dismal growth projections, both for Scotland and for the UK as a whole. We should have seen measures to support business expansion. Yet, according to research by SPICe, three key measures to support economic growth—enterprise agencies, VisitScotland and employability—have all been cut in real terms compared with the financial year of 2023-24. Shona Robison: Does Murdo Fraser think that the Tory proposals to cut our trade offices across the world would help or hinder economic growth in Scotland?”
“The party that likes to present itself as the challenger to the SNP at the next Holyrood election has abandoned the field completely, scared off by the First Minister’s overly dramatic warnings about the chaos and confusion that would ensue should the budget be voted down. I feel sorry for Michael Marra. He has been left exposed by his leader, who is not even here today. He has been left as exposed as Bianca Censori was at the Grammys the other night. Michael Marra: Frankly, it was Scottish Labour that called time on the amateur dramatics, the threats of the far right, the collapse of industry and the doomsday future that the First Minister was predicting because we secured the £5.2 billion that we want to go to the front line. That is why we have taken this position. Murdo Fraser: I think that Mr Marra has sold himself rather cheaply.”
“Perhaps he needs to find himself a pet cat and take it out for a walk so that he feels a bit better. The First Minister: I have no need for respite. I am very content. Murdo Fraser: There he goes again, Presiding Officer. The Deputy Presiding Officer: First Minister, please restrain yourself. Murdo Fraser: Thank you, Presiding Officer. It is the stance of Scottish Labour that is perhaps the most confusing. At least the Greens and the Liberal Democrats were able to negotiate some minor concessions in exchange for their support for the budget. However, last month, Scottish Labour announced that, regardless of the terms of the budget, it would be abstaining on the vote, giving John Swinney and his team a free pass.”
“Because of the Liberal Democrats’ involvement in negotiations, we have abruptly ended the continuance of white papers and, indeed, there is no more ministry for independence. As it is pantomime season, if Mr Fraser is asking, “Where’s my career?”, the answer is, “It’s behind you.” Murdo Fraser: My goodness, Presiding Officer. All I would say, gently, to Mr Cole-Hamilton is that I think that he should read the parliamentary written answers that were obtained by my colleague Craig Hoy, which set out exactly where that spending on the constitution department goes and he will see that they refer to independence. Craig Hoy: I will send them to Mr Cole- Hamilton. The First Minister: Stupid questions. Murdo Fraser: I do not know why Mr Swinney is sitting there heckling from a sedentary position.”
“Now, the Lib Dems have done the deal and, embarrassingly for Mr Cole- Hamilton, as we have had confirmed through parliamentary written answers, the Government will still be spending money on civil servants working to develop and communicate information on independence, so Mr Cole-Hamilton can apologise to the voters of West Edinburgh and elsewhere for selling them out when it comes to the constitution. Alex Cole-Hamilton: Oh dear, oh dear, Presiding Officer; it really is pantomime season. Yes, there is a constitutional affairs issue, but that constitutional affairs department within the Government is there to deal with the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020, to deal with dispute resolution and to deal with legislative consent motions.”
“Our scepticism was justified because, of course, despite some early posturing from the Greens suggesting that they might not support the budget after being expelled from Government, they came to the table once again as the nationalists’ most reliable allies, and agreed to support the budget in exchange for a few baubles being thrown their way. It was the same for the Liberal Democrats, of whom perhaps we might have expected a little more. As we heard from Craig Hoy earlier, Alex Cole-Hamilton had loudly maintained all the way through the budget discussions that it was a red line for him that there would be no spending to promote independence.”
“Murdo Fraser: I have to say to Mr Greer that the experience of his constituents might be very different from the experience that many of my constituents face, particularly in rural parts of Fife and Perth and Kinross, where we have seen a reduction rather than an increase in the bus services available. Back in the autumn, we had some drama around the budget, with posturing by the Scottish Government and suggestions that it might not progress. We were always sceptical as to whether that drama would amount to very much.”
“There is no point in having free car parking at hospitals if people cannot get a parking space when they go to the hospital. And so the list goes on. Ross Greer: The member is right that free bus travel is of very little use if there are no buses, but does he acknowledge that it is thanks to the provision of free bus travel for young people that many bus services across the country have been saved from being cut completely? The massive increase in passenger numbers because of the delivery of concessionary travel has protected and, in many cases, enhanced local bus services.”
“I always enjoy her speeches—I do not always agree with them, but she always makes an interesting contribution, and I think that we will be sorry and will miss her when she goes. She talked about the social contract. My colleague Liz Smith said that that is all very well, but the social contract has to be paid for. It has to be properly funded, or it is of little value. There is little point in having free bus travel if there are no buses in the local area that people can travel on. There is no point in having free NHS dentistry if people cannot get an NHS dentist, because no NHS dentists are available in their area. There is no point in having free university education if people cannot get a place at a Scottish university due to the number of overseas students being brought in to try to balance the books.”
“It will probably be useful if I start by reiterating why we in the Conservative Party are not voting for the budget. We are not voting for it because it puts the tax burden up; it does nothing to help the economy; it sees local services being cut; it sees council taxes going up; it sees universities and colleges getting their budgets squeezed, with some even potentially facing bankruptcy; and it sees rail fares going up. There is no action on cutting waste and no programme for public sector reform, and, of course, the Government is still spending money on the case for independence. That is why we are not backing the budget. Let me look in more detail at some of the issues that we have heard about during the debate. As usual, we had an interesting speech from Michelle Thomson.”
“This is my final thought for Murdo Fraser and his colleagues: if they are so keen on all those changes, I invite them to vote for them in the budget. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I remind everybody that we have limited time for the statement. I am keen to get in as many members as possible, so that they, too, have a chance to ask their questions.”
“I am sure that the Presiding Officer would wish to remind me that the statement is in relation to the announcements of Creative Scotland’s multiyear funding. Yes, there is an impact in some places, because the use of local facilities by funded organisations and so on is a longer conversation, which I am happy to continue having with Murdo Fraser. As I think that I said to him in portfolio questions yesterday, I met the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities this week to work out how we can better co-ordinate and support one another in working between the Scottish Government and local authorities, and I am committed to doing that. We want to maintain as much of our cultural infrastructure as possible.”
“I will have to get back to him on that. However, we already know from conversations with cultural organisations that the impact is problematic. We have asked the UK Government to reimburse the Scottish Government so that we can deal with those things. We know that we are not getting all the money, so it is a problem. Murdo Fraser’s second question was about larger music venues. I have said that I am keen to support venues as much as we possibly can. This is not the first time that I have asked Murdo Fraser to show me his workings on the issue—I am sure that he has just forgotten it, or it is in the post. I ask him to please let me know how he would wish us to do that in the budget, and what we would have to cut to make that happen. I look forward to getting the details from him. The point on local authorities is slightly different.”
“I genuinely do not want to be churlish, because I hope that colleagues across the chamber understand that what has been announced by Creative Scotland, funded through the Scottish Government, is absolutely transformational for the arts. I know that because the feedback from people elsewhere in the United Kingdom who do not have multiyear funding is a testament to how significant a change that is. It is very welcome, and I genuinely appreciate the support of colleagues in other parties. Murdo Fraser asked three questions. On offsetting the UK Labour Government’s jobs tax, I would observe that the applications for funding to the multiyear funding process took place before the announcement of the additional costs foisted on arts organisations by the Labour chancellor. Mr Fraser asked me to give an impression of what impact that might have.”
“Thirdly, as we know, a huge proportion of the arts scene, including theatres and other venues, are supported by local authorities. Those local arts facilities are telling us that they face funding cuts and, in some cases, even closure, due to the very difficult position that local authorities are in. Will the extra funding ensure that we will not see closures in local arts facilities that are funded through local authorities? Will the cabinet secretary reassure them that none of them face closure? Angus Robertson: First, I take the opportunity to welcome Murdo Fraser’s welcome. It took a while, but he got there, so I congratulate him.”
“Let me ask the cabinet secretary three questions in relation to his budget choices. First, we know that arts organisations across Scotland, including theatre companies, are struggling as a result of the increase in costs resulting from Labour’s jobs tax. To what extent will the increased funding that was announced today offset those increases? Secondly, as the cabinet secretary knows, I have previously raised the issue of financial support for larger music venues. In Scotland, such venues are not getting the benefit of rates relief that is available south of the border, because the Scottish Government has chosen to spend the Barnett consequentials in a different way. Will the cabinet secretary reconsider that position of the Government, even at this late hour?”
“I thank the cabinet secretary for his statement and for advance sight of it. The culture sector is vitally important to Scotland, not just as an enrichment of our national identity but because, by attracting visitors from around the world, its economic importance is worth billions to the Scottish economy. There has been a turbulent time in the culture sector in Scotland. That is down not just to the reasons that were mentioned in the cabinet secretary’s statement but to the choices that were made by his Government, with cuts in projects, uncertainty over future funding and questions about the credibility of Creative Scotland. Against that backdrop, the announcement of multiyear funding, which was long called for by the sector, will provide some certainty and security for arts organisations and is welcome.”
“We could add to that the capital investment for offshore wind, which we are increasing to £150 million; the £100 million for digital connectivity programmes that we are rolling out; the investment that we are putting into planning services; and the support that we have put in place for non-domestic rates relief, which is worth an estimated £731 million. All those measures show that this Government is on the side of business, as is demonstrated by business’s endorsement of our budget. I think that the Conservatives should support it. 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz 5.”
“The First Minister: I know that Mr Fraser was a contender for the leadership of the Scottish Conservatives, but he has just given an answer that is directly contradictory to the position of his party leader. His party leader wants us to cut the budgets of agencies—he said that he wants us to get rid of them. However, Mr Fraser has just argued for an expansion of the budgets of economic development agencies. For the record, I happen to think that Scotland today is extremely well served by our economic development agencies: Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise, VisitScotland and Skills Development Scotland. They work very well for Scotland, in that they attract significant investment and visitor numbers.”
“The First Minister is entirely right to raise concerns about Labour’s tax on jobs, but the Scottish Government’s budget for the coming year, which he encourages us to support, does little or nothing to support businesses in Scotland. According to the Scottish Parliament information centre, spending on three key areas to help to grow the economy—the enterprise agencies, VisitScotland and employability schemes—has been cut compared with the past financial year, while the Barnett consequentials from rates relief that is available south of the border for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses are not being passed on in this budget, which short-changes Scottish business. Why is the Government not doing more to support Scottish business?”
“The last time that we discussed the matter was in relation to the review that was conducted by Perth and Kinross Council on the importance of libraries. At that stage, I asked whether Murdo Fraser wanted to forward to me the submission that I assumed that he must have provided to that review. I am still waiting for that submission, so if he is able to forward it on to me, I would be very keen to read what he provides. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I can squeeze in question 8 if I have succinct questions, and answers to match. I call Jamie Halcro Johnston, who joins us remotely. Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Budget 2024-25 (Spending Outside United Kingdom) 8.”
“Mark Ruskell is entirely right to raise the issue of libraries under threat in Mid Scotland and Fife, although I gently say to him that he might reconsider his support for the Scottish Government budget, given that that is at the root of those challenges. Is the cabinet secretary satisfied that the budget settlement to which he referred will mean that no libraries will have to close in Mid Scotland and Fife? Will he have a quiet word with his Scottish National Party colleagues who run Perth and Kinross Council to ensure that that does not happen? Angus Robertson: I would strongly encourage local authorities across Scotland, given the new funding landscape, to look sympathetically at library provision.”
“If those who have an urgent and pressing need to see a doctor can get through first thing in the morning, they will take whatever is available to them, or they will persist. The real concern is for those who do not have an emergency or an urgent situation but have that annoying pain or itch or something troubling them that is not hugely inconveniencing them but is just a worry. If they cannot get through and get an appointment after phoning two or three times, they will put it off because it is not urgent.”
“Scotland has many times more people on the longest waits than south of the border even though the population there is much higher. Every member in the chamber will have constituents raising their frustrations about having to wait for excessive periods for vital treatments and, in some cases, because they can afford it, having to go private rather than facing months, if not years, of pain and distress. Worse still, others are having to use their life savings, dip into their pensions, borrow money or even remortgage their homes because the NHS is failing them. The other frustration that I continually receive complaints about is the difficulty that people have in getting appointments with their GP. In too many parts of the country, the 8 am rush for appointments is letting people down.”
“According to a poll that was carried out by True North, which was published at the weekend, 49 per cent of the Scottish population feel that they are not getting value for money for their higher tax bills and just 32 per cent think that public services are better as a result; the public are not convinced that that extra money is delivering greater benefits for them. Yesterday, the First Minister set out his new plan to save the NHS. Sidelining the hapless health secretary, John Swinney proposed NHS recovery and renewal. Why, after 18 years of the SNP being in charge, does the NHS in Scotland require recovery and renewal? That question answers itself when we look at the state of the NHS and at the record waiting times.”
“Looking at the budget, the Institute for Fiscal Studies has said that, according to its calculations, spending on public services from the current year to next year is flat in real terms and due to fall the year after. Against that backdrop and all the claims of extra money going in, we would expect public services in Scotland to be streets ahead of what we see in other parts of the United Kingdom. We would expect a much better health service, a much better education system and better-quality roads, yet that is simply not people’s experience after nearly 18 years of SNP Administrations. In the debate, we heard members in all parts of the chamber highlight issues that illustrate that point.”
“The real questions, which I will come to in more detail, are where all that money has gone and whether it is being spent effectively. Another point that members on the SNP benches never mention when they are talking about the budget is that, under the Barnett formula, we have around 20 per cent more per head of population to spend on public services in Scotland than is spent south of the border. The SNP never wants to acknowledge that. According to its own claims, the Scottish Government has boosted the budget by some £1.7 billion due to tax rises, making Scotland the highest-taxed part of the United Kingdom— although, of course, the net benefit to the Scottish budget is substantially below the sums that the headline figure would suggest.”
“As I said, it is nearly double what it was when the Parliament was first set up back in 1999, even accounting for the additional responsibilities in areas such as welfare. Bob Doris: Does Murdo Fraser recognise that this is a budget for one year? If we look at the finances to the Scottish Government from 2010 to 2017, when the Conservatives were in charge in Westminster, we see that there was a 7.4 per cent cut to Scotland’s discretionary spend budget. Will Mr Fraser apologise for that? Murdo Fraser: I do not recognise those figures at all. All that Mr Doris is doing is selectively taking a very short period. Over the piece, since devolution in 1999, we are looking at nearly double the amount of money in real terms compared with what there was.”
“This has been a wide-ranging debate with varied contributions. We have had members talking about the health service, education, transport and housing, as we might expect from a debate on our public services. The context is the budget, and we are being asked by the Scottish Government to celebrate the Scottish budget and how it invests in public services. I want to drill down into that claim a little bit. Let me start by setting the context. I say this for the benefit of Bob Doris in relation to his contribution. It is a reality that the block grant from Westminster for the coming financial year is the highest in the history of devolution. It is nearly double in real terms what it was when the Parliament was first set up— Bob Doris: Will Murdo Fraser give way? Murdo Fraser: Let me just finish my sentence, Mr Doris, and I will give way.”
“That will support our national mission to end child poverty, help low- income families with their living costs, support older people, support carers, who devote their time to others, and enable disabled people to live full and independent lives. We remain committed to supporting a high- quality post-school education, research and skills system, with a more than £2 billion investment in further education, higher education and skills, keeping the protection of free tuition at the heart of our education system. For early years, we continue to invest in high- quality funded early learning and childcare, with wider family support.”
“The additional funding will allow councils to continue to provide high-quality services and invest in local priorities, including maintaining or restoring teacher numbers to 2023 levels, enhancing interisland connectivity, tackling the climate emergency through new capital funding and addressing issues in social care. The social security budget demonstrates the strength of our commitment to building a future- proofed Scottish social security system that has dignity, fairness and respect at its heart. We are investing around £6.9 billion in benefits and payments for 2025-26. The investment will support around two million people, which is about one in three people in Scotland.”
“This budget works towards that vision, by supporting plans that improve population health, focus on prevention and early intervention, provide quality services and maximise access. I will now consider the wider critical public services that will benefit from the budget. Local government is of critical importance to delivering our high-quality public services in Scotland. The 2025-26 budget is allocating record funding of more than £15 billion to local government, which is a real-terms increase of 4.7 per cent compared with 2024-25. The funding will protect and build on the investments that this Government has already delivered for local communities across Scotland.”
“The plan also commits to expanding the number of hospital at home and virtual beds to at least 2,000 by December 2026, or sooner if possible, and deliver direct access to specialist frailty teams from every emergency department by this summer. It also embraces digital innovation to increase access and speed up access to care, and has a strong emphasis on prevention, so that we improve our population’s overall health and ease the pressure on a service that we all value and treasure. Last June, I outlined the reform vision for our health and social care services, which is to “enable and empower people in Scotland to live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives.” That vision remains.”
“We will set out more details of how that will be delivered in an operational improvement plan that will be published in March. The draft budget that is progressing through Parliament gives us the means to turn those plans into action. Those dynamic and demanding plans seek to dramatically reduce waiting times so that no one is waiting longer than a year for their treatment. The renewal plan sets out how our health services can provide the highest quality care in the right place. We will shift the balance of care from acute settings to the community. We will be taking measures to ensure that people receive the right care in the right place, and it will be made easier for people to see their first point of contact in the NHS—the general practice team, their dentist, optometrist or pharmacist.”
“Key to the focus on improvement and renewal is co-operation and collaboration across the system. The First Minister and I have regularly consulted health boards, health and social care partnerships, the Scottish Ambulance Service, Public Health Scotland, NHS 24 and others—and we will continue to do so. Indeed, just last week, we met a range of key stakeholders in Bute house to discuss the challenges that are ahead of us, and more meetings are planned. It is that type of collaborative approach, and that focus on systemic change, that has led to an NHS renewal plan, which the First Minister outlined on Monday. It provides a route to address the immediate issues that impact the NHS, as well as the long-term change that is needed to ensure its sustainable future.”