Ivan McKee
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“We understand that the SPSO assesses complaints to identify how they should be prioritised. The SPSO prioritises cases where a complainant is vulnerable or the matter is assessed as urgent and ongoing. The SPSO keeps people who are affected by delays informed. In 2024-25, the SPSO reduced the number of open cases by 15 per cent.”
“As part of our programme of public service reform, we are embedding openness, transparency and accountability into how services are designed, delivered and improved. Our next open Government action plan will set out an anti-corruption strategy and plans for improving public participation in decision making.”
“Will he agree to meet me and other members from across the chamber to discuss how we might work together to provide legal support for the Nolan principle of integrity in public life? Ivan McKee: I am very happy to meet the member to discuss that further. Such issues are hugely important to the Government.”
“How bad does the situation have to get before a full investigation is made? Ivan McKee: That would be a matter for the Parliament, not the Government. As an organisation, the ombudsman rightly sits separate from the Government.”
“More than £300 million has been saved through more efficient procurement in the past two years and we are projecting savings of more than £50 million through the rationalisation of estates—13 core Scottish Government buildings have been closed in the past three years and there are more to follow.”
“I am delighted to open this afternoon’s debate on public service reform, which I believe will be the defining task of this session of Parliament.”
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“The budget takes the total relief for eligible licensed hospitality premises and music venues to 40 per cent over the next three years, capped at £110,000 per business per year, plus the specific relief that has been offered for the self-catering sector.”
“Economic growth is essential to ensuring the sustainability of strong public services, and the budget supports that by investing £47 million to strengthen local economies and support the regeneration of local communities and town centres. It provides £2.4 billion for post-school learning, to enable everyone to reach their full potential, and £93 million to build critical offshore wind infrastructure and develop the supply chain. It also provides, for the next three years, 25 per cent in additional relief for licensed hospitality and music venues including pubs, restaurants, hotels, nightclubs and licensed clubs that are liable for the basic or intermediate property rate. We are providing more support for those businesses than the UK Government.”
“The budget offers a new approach to public services, with new high street GP walk-in centres an example of us thinking differently to ensure that much-needed services are accessible. Work will also be taken forward to develop a new approach to supporting individuals with complex care needs to move out of hospital, and to reduce inappropriate hospital admissions and out-of-area placements by providing tailored, community- based support solutions. The budget also includes funding to deliver more efficient services across our public sector, with £29.9 million of funding to support the invest to save programme in the year ahead. Alongside our public service reform strategy and portfolio efficiency plans, the budget supports the Government’s efforts to deliver better services more efficiently for the people of Scotland.”
“I am sure that the people of Scotland will not thank the party for that as its members attempt to take steps to reverse the reduction in child poverty that this Government has delivered. The budget recognises the vital role that public services play in the day-to-day lives of our citizens and in Scotland’s future. It invests more in community justice services and more in health and social care services, delivering a record £15.7 billion to local government. The cabinet secretary has set out how we are going even further to support local government by allocating a further £20 million, which local authorities can use towards funding the real living wage for adult and child care sectors.”
“It is clear that the budget, taken in the round, is underpinned by the Government’s top priority of eradicating child poverty. Craig Hoy: The minister and I do not agree on much of what he has said. Research by the Scottish Government shows that behavioural changes are emerging as a result of the Scottish child payment, including parents turning down pay increases, working less or putting more money into pension salary sacrifice schemes. Is the best way to lift children out of poverty not their parents having good, well-paid jobs rather than turning down work? Ivan McKee: The member should recognise that that is an in-work benefit. It is very clear that we are starting to get more details from the Conservatives as to which parts of the welfare bill its members would want to cut.”
“Taken together, those measures will reduce cost of living pressures, support children to move more and eat healthier food, and enable their parents to get to work. Other child poverty measures include a new annual £50 million whole family support package contributing to our ambition to eradicate child poverty. There is a £49 million boost to the tackling child poverty fund, taking it to a total of £61.5 million. The budget makes a commitment to begin work towards introducing a new Scottish child payment premium, which, it is estimated, will benefit the families of around 12,000 children. In addition, there is a commitment to provide further funding for the next financial year for the investing in communities fund, which supports the vital work that community groups do across our country.”
“This Government is proud to bring forward a budget that is underpinned by our priorities of placing families at its centre and delivering a more prosperous future for the people of Scotland. The decisions that we have made continue to protect this Government’s social contract—free prescriptions, free bus travel for 2.4 million people, free tuition for students and more than £6,000 in early learning and childcare support for each eligible child. The budget goes even further for families, with increased wraparound support, more investment in activity clubs and a universal breakfast offer for all primary school pupils. It will make sports more accessible for children, with £20 million for a summer of sport programme.”
“Community wealth building is an attractive policy to many, as people want to see and feel change where they live: for example, improved and vibrant high streets, increased job prospects with good terms and conditions, and strengthened, resilient communities. The bill will not change everything overnight, but it forges a new common purpose for the public sector to work with partners in the private, third and community sectors to focus on growing our economy for the benefit of all. In moving the motion in my name, I urge members to vote to pass the bill. I move, That the Parliament agrees that the Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill be passed. 15:52”
“As an economic policy, I want the power of our communities to be harnessed to help build our local economies. Ideas from communities about growing businesses and creating jobs must be listened to. The next Scottish Government and subsequent Administrations will be tasked with considering how all relevant Government activities can contribute to community wealth building, whether very directly in areas such as procurement, fair work or skills, or in a wider range of policy areas, where public investment or regulation might flex and change to assist our economy to grow in a way that is successful, sustainable and fair.”
“I expect that local partnerships will want to engage many specified bodies in their discussions, and many of the bodies can demonstrate telling contributions to community wealth building. However, it is appropriate that local, collaborative conversation reflects local context and circumstance. To reflect the fact that some local authorities will want to work together, the bill makes provision for neighbouring councils to work on a regional basis. That provides flexibility for community wealth building partnerships and, whatever the pattern of uptake in this context, all partnerships would be expected to set out plans that are complementary to community wealth building objectives to strengthen local economies and empower local communities. It is critical that the voice of local communities is at the core of community wealth building.”
“Clear guidance, informed by successful practice, is key, but too high a level of prescription in practice is not desirable. The majority of our local authorities are already pursuing community wealth building policies and objectives, and I am confident that an approach that is built on collaboration and empowerment has the best chance of success. The bill sets out a list of specified bodies that must be consulted when community wealth building guidance is being prepared and that “must have due regard to guidance” when it is published. Although all those public bodies also have economic agency as employers, asset owners, purchasers or investors, we determined that it was appropriate that they should have a lesser level of leadership expectation with regard to advancing community wealth building in Scotland.”
“In general, the bill has been informed by the desire to enable democratically elected local government to lead a process of active reform and improvement without creating a complex attendant bureaucracy. Local authorities will sit at the centre of a core partnership of those public sector anchor bodies with the highest degree of economic agency in their investment and delivery activities. They will be partnered by our enterprise agencies, health boards, colleges and regional transport partnerships. Among the many important recommendations in the committee’s stage 1 report was the call for clear guidance to help community wealth building partnerships to develop plans and implement actions in concert. An inclusive and collaborative development process with regard to statutory guidance has already started.”
“I expect that other contributors to the debate will point to things that they wanted to see in the bill in specific discrete policy areas. However, I believe that establishing a strong cross-Scotland focus on community wealth building as an economic development model will ensure a consistent realisation of economic benefits for all areas and regions of Scotland over time. As the policy advances, the policies, budgets and laws that are relevant to its success can be examined with a view to establishing whether change is required in any contributory area that can spark the creation of more jobs, more businesses, further innovation and increased community asset ownership.”
“It is growing all forms of local business, creating and protecting jobs, extending greater asset ownership and influence to communities and attracting more investment into our local economies. The bill obliges future Scottish Governments to publish a community wealth building statement that will set out the measures that the Scottish ministers intend to and are taking to advance community wealth building in Scotland across the five pillars of the economic development model, which are spending, fair work, land and property, new business growth and investment. The statement and detailed statutory guidance will assist community wealth building partnerships, which are made up of local authorities and relevant public bodies, to produce their own community wealth building action plans.”
“The bill’s main aim is to create a new and consistent platform for local economic development in Scotland—a new format that recognises the economic agency of every pound of public money alongside the necessity for the public sector to partner with businesses and communities in the pursuit of sustainable and inclusive economic growth. We need to encourage the kind of growth that everyone can benefit from. Community wealth building can play a key role in generating, circulating and retaining wealth in our local and regional economies, ensuring prosperity and benefit for all. When I assumed responsibility for the bill, I was clear that the legislation must add value to economic policy objectives and work as a public service reform measure. We need only look at what community wealth building is achieving on the ground to see the benefits.”
“I begin by thanking the Economy and Fair Work Committee for its scrutiny of the Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill. I also highlight the input from Richard Leonard, Paul Sweeney, Rhoda Grant and others as being particularly helpful. The committee’s stage 1 report stated that community wealth building has the potential to play a vital role in improving the lives of people across Scotland. I think that that is true and, since I became responsible for the bill—I thank Tom Arthur for his earlier work on taking the bill forward—it has been apparent to me how much support there is for community wealth building across the country and internationally. I am aware that many organisations support the legislation and are keen for it to pass.”
“This rather modest target is in line with existing stated Scottish Government policy from the 2021 programme for government, with a target of 500 employee-owned businesses registered in Scotland by 2030. I move amendment 3.”
“Amendment 14 disagreed to. The Presiding Officer: Group 2 is on targets, indicators and reporting. Amendment 3, in the name of Richard Leonard, is grouped with amendments 4, 19, 7, 20, 28, 29, 10, 30 to 32 and 34. Richard Leonard: Amendment 3 simply seeks to set a target of doubling the size of the worker co-operative and employee ownership sector in Scotland by 2030, and then to revise that number in subsequent ministerial community wealth building statements to this Parliament. Worker co- operatives and employee-owned businesses are widely recognised as democratic forms of local ownership. They are at the heart of any community wealth building strategy.”
“For Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 6, Against 91, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 2 disagreed to. Amendment 13 moved—[Paul Sweeney]—and agreed to. Amendment 14 moved—[Lorna Slater]. The Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 14 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“For Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 14, Against 83, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 1 disagreed to. Amendment 2 moved—[Richard Leonard]. The Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 2 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“For Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) 14:45 The Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 13, Against 82, Abstentions 0.”
“Community wealth building is about the generation, circulation and retention of wealth in a local community. Those are all examples of extractive forms of business and capitalism that take—rob, even, albeit it is legalised robbery— money out of local economies and off of local communities. These amendments are designed to point to a better way. I press amendment 1. The Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 1 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division. As this is the first division of the stage, I will suspend the meeting for around five minutes to allow members to access the digital voting system. 14:38 Meeting suspended. 14:44 On resuming— The Presiding Officer: We come to the vote on amendment 1, in the name of Richard Leonard. Members should cast their votes now.”
“Again, I am slightly baffled by the position that the minister and the Government are taking. Let me go back to something that the minister told me about in-sourcing at stage 2. He said to me that it would have “an unintended consequence” and that: “it would prevent the very businesses that we are trying to support locally from gaining contracts with public enterprises via public procurement.”—[Official Report, Economy and Fair Work Committee, 14 January 2026; c 44.] However, what the issue is about is bringing services in-house to local public sector organisations. This is not about procurement. The beneficiaries of the contracts I mean are not local small and medium-sized enterprises, they are huge multinational corporations—Mitie, Serco, Sodexo, GEOAmey, Teleperformance, HC-One and Compass. The list goes on.”
“The Presiding Officer: I call Richard Leonard to wind up and indicate whether he wishes to press or withdraw amendment 1. Richard Leonard: I must say that it is interesting that the minister recognises examples of in-sourcing, some of which have been conducted by his own Government, but then goes on to say that he cannot define what in-sourcing is in the bill. I am slightly confused by his position on that. Ivan McKee: More accurately, I said that the member had not accurately defined in-sourcing in his amendments. Richard Leonard: On the one hand, we are told that this is a general permissive piece of legislation and that we cannot have too much prescription in it. However, now, I am being told that I have not been prescriptive enough with the amendments.”
“It is already part of the wider community wealth building framework that investment activity must support local benefit and the retention of wealth in communities in line with the community wealth building approach. In my view, the term does not imply support for extractive or externally driven investment models. The wider purpose and principles of community wealth building make it clear that activity must align with inclusive, locally rooted economic outcomes. I do not understand the distinction between investment on the one hand and funding and finance on the other. The current wording is wider, more accurate and better aligned with the aims of the bill, so the Government cannot support the amendments in Lorna Slater’s name.”
“As such, they support the generation, circulation and retention of wealth in their communities. The Scottish Government regularly engages with the financial services sector, including mutuals and regulators, to identify and raise specific needs of consumers, communities and organisations based in, and operating in, Scotland. Although my position is to oppose amendments 2 and 6 in the name of Richard Leonard, the Scottish Government is open to working with the member and with other colleagues to identify how best to use our engagement with the sector and the regulator to unlock the barriers that exist and to support investment by financial mutuals in our communities. On amendments 14 and 18, I consider the term “investment” to be sufficiently broad and appropriate in this context.”
“Paul Sweeney’s amendments 13 and 17 relating to financial institutions represent a proportionate and workable approach in comparison with Richard Leonard’s amendments 2 and 6, as they would support access to finance aligned with community wealth building objectives without creating unintended statutory or regulatory consequences. Financial mutuals play an important role in the United Kingdom’s financial services industry and include building societies, credit unions, mutual insurers and friendly societies, co-operative and community benefit societies and funeral-plan providers. They are owned by their members, with deep roots in communities, and that ownership model means that they can focus on delivering value exclusively to their members and provide access to financial services that may not otherwise be available.”
“The member has given some good examples of where in-sourcing has taken place and I commend him for raising the issue, but, as I said, the Government cannot accept the amendments as drafted. Turning to amendments 2, 13, 6 and 17, we fully recognise the important role that credit unions and other co-operative financial institutions can play in supporting community wealth building. The amendments on that issue that were lodged at stage 2 could not be supported, largely because they would have placed statutory duties on ministers and the community wealth building partnerships in ways that would risk cutting across established financial regulatory frameworks and the operational independence of lenders.”
“The Government is not in a position to support Richard Leonard’s amendments 1 and 5, which seek to introduce additional measures into both the community wealth building action plans and the ministerial statement. Although I understand that the member’s intention is to increase direct service provision by the public sector, the amendments do not define what is meant by “in-sourcing” or “outsourcing”, nor do they clarify which services are being referred to. Without clear definitions, the scope and practical implications are uncertain. Amendments 1 and 5 also refer to services that are provided by the community wealth building partnerships. In practice, a partnership itself would not deliver services—delivery would sit with individual public bodies such as local authorities.”
“I will address directly the characterisation that Mr Hoy has put forward both in this debate and more widely. What has been described as a tax grab is, in reality, a process of evidence gathering and public engagement that has now concluded.”
“Ivan McKee: We are offering more than £320 million in support through transitional relief schemes and retail, hospitality and leisure relief over the next three years. Overall, rateable values are expected to rise by 12 per cent over three years following the 2026 revaluation. Although some properties will have increases in rateable value after the 2026 revaluation, more than 40,000 properties will have decreases in rateable value. Revaluation transition relief will cap gross bill increases for those businesses that will experience the most significant increases. The reliefs will be in place precisely to cap the large increases in rateable value for the businesses that Murdo Fraser talked about.”
“As a result of the decisions that we have taken in the budget, the revenues that will be raised from non-domestic rates in the next year are expected to be 6 per cent lower in real terms—using the consumer prices index— than the pre-Covid amount. That is despite the number of properties on the valuation increasing over the same time period. Despite what Murdo Fraser says, there are more businesses in the Scottish economy, and they will pay less in rates than they did pre-Covid. Murdo Fraser: The minister has set out the broader context, but this debate is about hospitality. The reliefs that he has announced will not touch the sides when it comes to addressing the black holes that are being created due to the current revaluation. What action will he take on the current revaluation, and will he do what Northern Ireland is currently doing?”
“The Scottish budget 2026-27 will respond to the expected outcome of the revaluation by decreasing the basic, intermediate and higher property rates for 2026-27, which will ensure the lowest level of basic property rates since 2018-19. We are also introducing a package of reliefs to business in 2026-27, which are worth an estimated £864 million, to reduce the very bills that Murdo Fraser talked about. As a result of the decisions that we have taken in the budget, the revenues that will be raised— Murdo Fraser: Will the minister give way? Ivan McKee: Murdo Fraser should listen to this point, because it is important and puts where we are today into context.”
“I will start with a quote: “We welcome the move from five-year to three-year revaluations, which is supported by the business community.” That is a quote by Murdo Fraser from the stage 1 debate on the Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Bill. He also said that “There is much in the bill that we welcome”.—[Official Report, 10 October 2019; c 114.] At that point, the bill was also widely welcomed by the business community. As members of this Parliament will be aware, the revaluation process is administered by Scottish assessors, which are independent of the Scottish Government and local government. It is right that that is the case and that we maintain the process as it operates.”
“There will be a brief pause before we move on to the next item of business. Points of Order 14:43”
“Jamie Hepburn: With around 25,000 pupils in North Lanarkshire alone said to benefit from that policy, including a significant number of young people across Scotland, can the minister set out what the expected impact of the policy will be in sustaining reductions in child poverty in Scotland? Ivan McKee: Our £3 million investment in the bright start breakfasts fund is already benefiting families that are most at risk of poverty and it is an important step in meeting the First Minister’s key priorities. The programme will reduce food insecurity, support parents to take up, sustain or increase employment, which will address barriers, particularly for families on low incomes. The Deputy Presiding Officer: That concludes portfolio questions on finance and local government.”
“As announced during the 2026-27 draft budget statement, we will continue to invest £3 million to fund breakfast clubs that were funded in 2025-26 through the bright start breakfasts fund. We will also provide additional investment of £15 million to phase delivery of a national breakfast club offer. From 2027-28, we will invest £44 million each year to deliver breakfast clubs for all children in primary school across Scotland by August 2027. Acknowledging the draft budget, decisions have not yet been made on funding distribution. We are working with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, local government and wider partners to agree to that.”
“I and other members across the chamber are well aware of the importance of the fund for local communities. As I have indicated, the fund will continue during 2026-27. With a new Government coming in in May, I am sure that discussions will begin shortly thereafter on what funding will continue beyond 2026-27.”
“Following the publication of the budget, ministers have agreed funding to support an extension of the investing in communities fund for the organisations that are currently supported by the fund. The funding will provide support for 2026- 27. We will give effect to that at the appropriate point through the budget bill process, which I hope that Jeremy Balfour and other members across the chamber will support. Jeremy Balfour: Although I am grateful to the minister for the limited extension, there is still a question of what comes next. What does the minister expect charities such as Dr Bell’s Family Centre and the Broomhouse hub in my region that rely on the funding to do in a year’s time when they are faced with the cliff edge again? Ivan McKee: Jeremy Balfour raises an important point.”
“Further, the Scottish welfare fund provides people on low incomes with emergency grants if they are facing a crisis, homelessness or other housing or caring challenges. I encourage anyone who is concerned about rent arrears to contact their local authority to access support. The Deputy Presiding Officer : Question 4 has not been lodged. Local Government Finance Settlements (Rurality) 6.”
“It affects universal credit and housing benefit, leading to rent arrears. I welcome the minister’s answer, but has he investigated with those employers in the Government’s sphere of influence whether the practice is more widespread? Ivan McKee: I certainly intend to further investigate the extent of the issue across the public sector and understand its impact, and to understand whether there are opportunities to address the issue with regard to payroll timing by discussing it with those public sector employers. On wider support to help households in Scotland who are struggling with their housing costs, we are investing a record £100 million in discretionary housing payment this year to reduce poverty, safeguard tenancies and prevent homelessness.”
“The Scottish Government has repeatedly called on the United Kingdom Government to address the fundamental issues with universal credit, which we have spent £1.3 billion mitigating the worst aspects of over the past 15 years. As part of the Department for Work and Pension’s on- going review of universal credit, the Scottish Government has written to the UK Government to set out a number of concerns that we believe reduce the effectiveness of universal credit. I am grateful to Clare Adamson for raising that important issue. The Scottish Government will seek to engage with COSLA to explore it further. Clare Adamson: One of my constituents was affected by the issue in December, when she received two payroll payments, despite no increase in annual income. The issue affects the most vulnerable people in our society.”
“LBTT relief is a necessary component and will help to unlock development, attract investment and support the creation of high-quality jobs in communities that stand to benefit enormously from long-term and sustainable economic growth. The Presiding Officer: The question on the motion will be put at decision time. The next item of business is consideration of Parliamentary Bureau motion S6M-20576, on suspension of standing orders. I ask Graeme Dey, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, to move the motion. Motion moved, That the Parliament agrees that, for the purposes of consideration of the supplementary legislative consent memorandum on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, Rules 9B.3.5 and 9B.3.6 of Standing Orders are suspended.—[Graeme Dey] The Presiding Officer: The question on the motion will be put at decision time.”
“Both zones anticipate substantial matched funding: up to £340 million in Glasgow city region and up to £261 million in the north-east. That level of commitment is not accidental; it reflects confidence in the programme and Scotland’s economic strengths and directions. We will work closely with the regional economic partnerships to ensure fair work principles are embedded throughout the investment zones. Both zones are currently finalising tax and governance plans with clear commitments to ensure that the benefits of growth are shared fairly. Those plans will be in place by the end of this financial year. The investment zones are part of a coherent, targeted and ambitious programme.”
“Relief will be available only where land is used for qualifying commercial purposes, and a three-year control period will ensure that relief is retained only where genuine development takes place. Revenue Scotland will administer the relief and enforce compliance, which will be supported by its wider anti-avoidance framework. It is a targeted economic tool with clear safeguards. The Scottish Fiscal Commission has assessed the annual costs as being below its materiality threshold of £5 million. Programme costs will be met from the UK Government’s £160 million funding envelope for each zone, so there will be no detriment to the Scottish budget. The programme is designed to strengthen regional innovation and capacity, attract private investment and support the creation of high-quality jobs.”
“LBTT relief is a key incentive that will make the zones competitive and investment ready. It targets underdeveloped land—sites that have seen little or no activity for years—and removes one of the most significant early barriers to development: up- front transaction costs. This is about enabling investment that would not otherwise happen and focusing on commercial activity that will deliver real economic value. The reliefs align with the equivalent stamp duty land tax reliefs that are available in investment zones in England. That is a deliberate choice that will ensure that Scotland’s offer is competitive and capable of attracting the same calibre of investment as other parts of the United Kingdom. Investors should have absolute clarity that Scotland is open for business. The relief conditions are clear and robust.”
“I welcome the opportunity to set out why the Government is introducing land and buildings transaction tax relief as part of Scotland’s investment zones programme. The programme is an important strategic intervention that is designed to accelerate growth in the Glasgow city region and in the north-east by attracting investment in high-value frontier sectors, including space, photonics and artificial intelligence—areas in which investment and innovation can drive sectoral growth and growth across the whole of Scotland’s economy. The zones are not abstract concepts; they are grounded in extensive engagement with local businesses, research institutions, local authorities and skills providers, and are backed by substantial private sector investment commitments.”
“We appreciate that some businesses are in a difficult position, but that is why those significant relief packages are in place to support them. With regard to the valuation methodology, the member should know that, as requested by the business community, B J Gill has already started to conduct an independent review of the valuation methodology for licensed premises. That work is on-going, and we will review its findings when it reports later this year.”