Kate Forbes
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“We are committed to securing a just transition for Grangemouth. We have provided more than £12 million in funding to support the creation of up to 279 jobs. We are also committed to supporting workers who have been made redundant as a result of commercial decisions at Grangemouth.”
“The unions, especially Unite the Union, have been constructive throughout and have put the needs of their members before anything else. What role has our Government played to create a future for the workers who have been abandoned and discarded by the United Kingdom Labour Government?”
“It has worked with us to establish the Grangemouth jobs prioritisation scheme, which ensures that redundant workers are prioritised for new opportunities arising at Grangemouth as a result of the Grangemouth just transition fund.”
“Kate Forbes: I agree that attracting a varied and diverse range of investors who are able to meet the needs of companies across all projects and stages is vital. We have seen huge growth in start- ups, and now the focus needs to turn to scale-ups.”
“High streets are going to be hammered again by inaction on business rates that, in many cases, are doubling or trebling. Has the Government done any analysis of the impact of those increases on business closures and vacancy rates, and what they will do to the streets? Should the Government not look again at pausing the process?”
“Oliver Mundell: I associate myself with comments from colleagues across the chamber about the Deputy First Minister. I am concerned that the Scottish National Party- led Dumfries and Galloway Council is undoing all that hard work by continuing with its obsession with wasting £70 million of taxpayers’ money on the deeply unpopular Whitesan…”
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“According to the Scottish Government’s own “Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland” figures, the Barnett formula delivers nearly £2,400 extra for every man, woman and child in Scotland compared with what is spent elsewhere in the United Kingdom. That is money that would not be available if this Government got its way and separated us from the rest of the United Kingdom. In addition, we saw a programme of direct investment in Scotland from the previous UK Government, totalling nearly £3 billion of its spending. We saw £1.5 billion investment in city, region and growth deals—money coming into vital projects in Scotland delivering key infrastructure, innovations and projects in the culture and tourism space. I can mention two examples in my own region.”
“Will the member give way? Murdo Fraser: Of course. Kate Forbes: I recognise that the member will want to set out what his Government did. I start by commending it for announcing the supercomputer for the University of Edinburgh. Does he share our negative disappointment about the current Government’s decision not to come through on that? Murdo Fraser: Yes—I agree with the Deputy First Minister on that point. A range of other projects were proposed by the previous Conservative Government, not least projects that were funded through the towns fund, which affected, for example, Dunfermline and Perth, in my region. That funding has now been cancelled, which is very regrettable. Let me talk about what the previous Conservative Government did, and put some of this into context.”
“I remind members that questions 2 and 4 have been grouped together. I will take any supplementary questions on those after the substantive questions have been answered. Members who wish to ask a supplementary question should press their request-to-speak button during the relevant question. There is a lot of interest in asking supplementary questions, so brevity will be required in both questions and responses. Scottish Visitor Levy (Stakeholder Engagement) 1.”
“Kate Forbes: The member is absolutely right to highlight those points. We support and work with councils to ensure that Gaelic initiatives receive sustained support. It is worth making the point that this is not only about Gaelic-speaking families, let us say. The Scottish traditional music scene would be poorer without local Mòds and without Fèisean nan Gàidheal. I commend both organisations and look forward to continued support for the efforts in North Lanarkshire. The Deputy Presiding Officer: That concludes portfolio questions on Deputy First Minister’s responsibilities, economy and Gaelic. There will be a brief pause before we move to the next portfolio to allow members on the front benches to change places. Finance and Local Government The Deputy Presiding Officer: The next portfolio is finance and local government.”
“Fulton MacGregor: I, too, welcome the announcement of the Mòd, which will help to foster and develop the Gaelic language in my area, which traditionally would not have been considered a Gaelic-speaking heartland—that is, certainly, not in comparison with the cabinet secretary’s constituency. From a strictly social perspective, promoting other languages helps us to preserve our heritage, engage with communities and improve our cultural awareness. How can the Scottish Government work with councils to ensure that Gaelic initiatives receive sustained support at the local level, especially in areas outwith the stronger Gaelic- speaking regions? How does it intend to build on events such as the North Lanarkshire Mòd to create a lasting legacy for Gaelic in the region? The Deputy Presiding Officer: As briefly as possible, Deputy First Minister.”
“Let me first offer my congratulations to North Lanarkshire Council and to An Comunn Gàidhealach for working together to establish a local Mòd in North Lanarkshire. It is excellent news, and it builds on and adds to the many Gaelic activities that are already available in that council area. It also provides opportunities for young people to use the language and strengthen their Gaelic skills, but, perhaps even more than that, it strengthens their musical skills and a range of cultural skills. A range of measures are in place that support Gaelic at a local level. Local authorities support Gaelic medium education, the work of Gaelic bodies such as Fèisean nan Gàidheal, An Comunn Gàidhealach and Comann Nam Parant, and the work of Gaelic development officers. All that work will be strengthened by the provisions in the Scottish Languages Bill.”
“He mentioned Granton, and I believe that the First Minister visited Granton this very day to hear about the City of Edinburgh Council’s ambitious programme of investment for the area. We have also been boosting the city’s budget with a further £16.8 million, which takes support for affordable housing to more than £51 million and a total of £160 million in the past three financial years. We are accepting bids to several funds to support the first phase of the Granton investment programme, including the housing infrastructure fund. Edinburgh and South-east Scotland City Region Deal 7.”
“The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities’ distribution formula determines the allocation that the City of Edinburgh Council gets for its budget, but how is the Scottish Government providing separate funding streams to meet Edinburgh’s growing needs? One example is the investment in Granton, in my constituency, which the First Minister announced today. What more can the Scottish Government do to support growth and to deal with the pressures that that puts on our population? Kate Forbes: Ben Macpherson is absolutely right to draw a distinction between the standard general revenue grant that local authorities receive and the extra and additional funding that is invested in particular areas of Scotland.”
“Growing the economies of our cities and regions is a priority for the Government, and we are investing significant time, effort and funding in the area. In addition to the £300 million investment in the Edinburgh and south-east Scotland city region deal, which is supporting infrastructure and innovation to drive growth, and the range of benefits that are being delivered through the Forth green freeport, we have invested nearly £70 million in regeneration projects across Edinburgh, all of which are aimed at creating jobs and supporting individuals, businesses and communities. Ben Macpherson: As the cabinet secretary stated, much is being invested in Edinburgh, and the Edinburgh economy is thriving. That is driving significant population growth, which creates additional pressures on services and housing demand.”
“Kate Forbes: I thank the member for that point. I very much recognise that his primary concern is to ensure that child abuse is eradicated and that perpetrators are strongly held to account. I will pass his comments on to the Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise and will make sure that any proposals that we proceed with have the confidence of those who want to have a stronger system in place. The Deputy Presiding Officer: A number of members want to ask supplementaries. I will try to get them all in, but they will need to be brief, as will the responses.”
“Colin Smyth: The petitioners have rightly highlighted the huge power imbalance that exists between the lone victim or whistleblower who seeks to highlight serious child safeguarding failures and the public bodies. Those who make complaints often face huge obstacles, not least because of public bodies’ lack of openness and transparency and the fact that they often have unlimited legal and financial resources to defend themselves against allegations. Does the Deputy First Minister not recognise that what the Scottish Government has proposed will not address that huge power imbalance but will simply enable public bodies and institutions to continue to mark their own homework? Does she not accept the argument of the victims who are arguing for an independent whistleblower to be set up to support people who bring forward complaints?”
“We are fully committed to ensuring that Scotland’s child protection system is as robust as it can be. The Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise has provided several responses to the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee about PE1979, which are available on the Scottish Parliament website, and she has also met the petitioners. The minister’s response to the committee dated 26 February advised that officials are working to understand what improvements can be made. They include reviewing current whistleblowing processes and engaging with on-going reviews, including the Scottish child abuse inquiry and the review of the General Teaching Council for Scotland’s fitness to teach procedures.”
“UK investment institutions manage nearly £11 trillion in global assets. Scotland-based firms alone manage some £490 billion. If we can secure more of that capital for Scottish businesses and Scottish projects, the effect will be truly transformational.”
“Increasing investment across the Scottish economy is a defining challenge for our times. For many years, persistently low levels of investment in Scottish businesses and Scottish projects have held back improvements in productivity and limited our economic growth. That problem is not unique to Scotland—the same has been true for the United Kingdom as a whole over an extended period. However, increasing the levels of private investment in our economy is essential for everything else that we want to achieve. It is essential for growth and prosperity, for tackling the climate and nature emergencies, for eradicating child poverty and for improving the public services on which we all depend. Without a step change, we will not succeed. If the challenge in front of us is daunting, the opportunity is enormous.”
“Under the terms of the Inquiries Act 2005, I have a statutory duty to consult the chair, which I did, and I also invited representations from all core participants to ensure fairness. My decision, which I announced earlier this week, not to agree to an extension was made partly because I now believe that the inquiry should conclude as swiftly as possible, as we near the 10th anniversary of Mr Bayoh’s death and because, as I said in my first answer, a public inquiry carried out under the 2005 act can never rule on, or determine, criminal or civil liability. Housing (Scotland) Bill (Homelessness Prevention) 3.”
“Kate Forbes: I recognise the member’s long- standing interest in the matter. She will be aware that the terms of reference for the inquiry were announced in May 2020 and included all aspects of the post-incident management of the case, including the role of the Lord Advocate in directing the investigation by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner and the timeline from the incident up to the time of the prosecutorial decision. The issue of race is explicitly identified in the original terms of reference for the inquiry and has been considered throughout. In September 2024, more than four years after those terms of reference were first announced in May 2020, there was a formal request that I extend them. It came as the inquiry was nearing the close of the evidential hearings and concluding statements.”
“Claire Baker: I thank the Deputy First Minister for that response and for the letter that I received from her this week, detailing her decision. As she has recognised, the decision is a great disappointment to Sheku’s family and friends. As highlighted in correspondence from the inquiry chair, Lord Bracadale, the decision to extend the terms could have considered whether there had been a potentially flawed prosecutorial decision as a result of a misunderstanding of factual evidence, misconceived instructions and a failure to properly consider the issue of race. I note the Crown’s commitment to keep evidence at the inquiry under review, but what reassurance can be provided to Sheku’s family, and to the public, that the process of the inquiry has allowed all relevant matters to be properly examined?”
“As I confirmed in my answer earlier this week, I have decided not to extend the terms of reference for the Sheku Bayoh public inquiry. I understand that that decision might be disappointing to Mr Bayoh’s family. The inquiry’s terms of reference were announced in May 2020. A public inquiry cannot determine or rule on criminal or civil liability. Only the Crown Office can reconsider prosecution, and the Solicitor General has reserved the right to do so. I am confident that the current terms of reference are broad enough to enable the chair to deliver a substantial report, and I also believe that it is in the public interest for the inquiry to conclude swiftly and for its recommendations to be implemented as soon as possible.”
“Motions agreed to, That the Parliament agrees that the Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2025 [draft] be considered by the Parliament. That the Parliament agrees that the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee be designated as the lead committee in consideration of the Dog Theft (Scotland) Bill at stage 1. The Presiding Officer: That concludes decision time. Northern Corridor Community Forum Evidence-based Report”
“The Presiding Officer: The next question is, that motion S6M-16561, in the name of Claire Baker, on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, on the appointment of a member of the Standards Commission for Scotland, be agreed to. Motion agreed to, That the Parliament agrees, under section 8 of the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000, that Malcolm Bell be appointed as a member of the Standards Commission for Scotland. The Presiding Officer: I propose to put a single question on two Parliamentary Bureau motions, unless any member objects. As no member has objected, the final question is, that motion S6M-16588, on the referral of a Scottish statutory instrument, and motion S6M- 16589, on the designation of a lead committee, in the name of Jamie Hepburn, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, be agreed to.”
“Motion, as amended, agreed to, That the Parliament believes that rail and bus fares must be affordable to encourage the use of public transport; welcomes that rail passenger numbers, since the off-peak all-day pilot ended, have continued to grow, with demand in each four-week period being an average of 4.5% more than the same period in 2024, when the trial was in place; notes that the Scottish Budget for 2025-26 includes provision for a pilot of a £2 bus fare cap; recognises that the results of the off-peak all-day pilot mirror the results of Transport for London’s similar trial, which also saw no significant increase in travel as a result of lower fares; further recognises that reinstating off-peak fares all day from 1 April 2025 would cost up to £40 million of resource funding, which would require a commensurate reduction elsewhere in the Transport portfolio’s resource budget; recognises that not implementing a fares rise in 2025 would require an additional £11 million, which would require a commensurate reduction elsewhere in the Transport portfolio’s resource budget, and believes that any further consideration of off-peak fares all day should take account of the Transport Scotland and Transport for London research, be part of future budget planning and must also consider progress on bus affordability, availability and reliability across Scotland.”
“For Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) 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) [Proxy vote cast by Rona Mackay] Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Jamie Hepburn] McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McKelvie, Christina (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Jamie Hepburn] McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Alba) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) Against Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Con) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (Con) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on motion S6M-16572, in the name of Mark Ruskell, on cheaper rail fares, as amended, is: For 65, Against 54, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment disagreed to. The Presiding Officer: The next question is, that motion S6M-16572, in the name of Mark Ruskell, on cheaper rail fares, as amended, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“For Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Con) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (Con) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) 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) [Proxy vote cast by Rona Mackay] 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) [Proxy vote cast by Jamie Hepburn] McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McKelvie, Christina (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Jamie Hepburn] McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) Abstentions Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on amendment S6M-16572.1, in the name of Sue Webber, is: For 28, Against 85, Abstentions 4.”
“Amendment agreed to. The Presiding Officer: The next question is, that amendment S6M-16572.1, in the name of Sue Webber, which seeks to amend motion S6M- 16572, in the name of Mark Ruskell, on cheaper rail fares, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“For Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) 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) [Proxy vote cast by Rona Mackay] Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Jamie Hepburn] McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McKelvie, Christina (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Jamie Hepburn] McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Alba) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) Against Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Con) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (Con) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on amendment S6M-16572.3, in the name of Fiona Hyslop, is: For 64, Against 55, Abstentions 0.”
“The Presiding Officer: I remind members that, if the amendment in the name of Fiona Hyslop is agreed to, the amendment in the name of Claire Baker will fall. The next question is, that amendment S6M- 16572.3, in the name of Fiona Hyslop, which seeks to amend motion S6M-16572, in the name of Mark Ruskell, on cheaper rail fares, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“Motion, as amended, agreed to, That the Parliament reiterates its unwavering support for the ceasefire in Gaza, for the calls for all efforts to be made to ensure an extension of the ceasefire, for humanitarian aid to reach people in Gaza, and for the remaining hostages to be released; recognises and supports the humanitarian assistance that the Scottish Government has provided to the people of Gaza; calls for recognition of a Palestinian state and a two-state solution; recognises that Scottish Enterprise does not provide funding for the manufacture of weapons or munitions; notes that Scottish Enterprise operates a human rights due diligence process in the awarding of any funding; recognises that responsibility for issuing licences for the export of arms is reserved to the UK Government; calls for the suspension of arms exports to Israel, and does not believe that any public funding should be going to supply arms to Israel; acknowledges that across the UK, arms export licences have been suspended for items with a clear risk that they may be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law; calls on Scottish Enterprise to review its human rights due diligence checks to ensure that they take account of where products’ end use is, and that they fully comply with legal obligations under the Export Control Act 2002 and international law, and recognises the contribution of the defence sector in Scotland and the role that Scotland-based businesses have played in defending democracy and freedom.”
“For Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) 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) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) 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) [Proxy vote cast by Rona Mackay] Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Jamie Hepburn] McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McKelvie, Christina (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Jamie Hepburn] McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Alba) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) Against Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Con) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (Con) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on motion S6M-16571, in the name of Lorna Slater, on Scottish Enterprise funding for arms companies, as amended, is: For 83, Against 35, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment agreed to. The Presiding Officer: The next question is, that motion S6M-16571, in the name of Lorna Slater, on Scottish Enterprise funding for arms companies, as amended, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I could not connect to the app in time, but I would have voted yes. The Presiding Officer: Thank you. We will ensure that your vote is recorded. For Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) 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) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) 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) [Proxy vote cast by Rona Mackay] 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) [Proxy vote cast by Jamie Hepburn] McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McKelvie, Christina (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Jamie Hepburn] McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Alba) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) Against Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Abstentions Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Con) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (Con) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on amendment S6M-16571.2, in the name of Daniel Johnson, is: For 85, Against 8, Abstentions 26.”
“Humza Yousaf talked about a new world order—or, rather, disorder, as it is. It poses a stark choice for us as a Government and for each of us as parliamentarians. We are accountable for our actions. The choices that we make will lead to either peace or greater disorder. For the sake of the children, I call on us all to stand side by side in their defence. 15:51”
“That is why we support the line in the motion that calls on us to review and ensure that the most robust checks are in place with regard to products’ end use. I understand Lorna Slater’s position that we have a responsibility to use all our public funding in line with our values and in line with international law. Although the fact has been covered already that the export and sale of arms are reserved matters, the limitations of Scotland’s devolved powers do not prevent us from being vocal and active in calling for an end to arms sales that contribute to the killing and suffering of civilians. I urge members to support our amendment, which reflects our unwavering commitment to a two-state solution for lasting peace in the middle east and to no public funding for the supply of arms to Israel.”
“It is those children, both Israeli and Palestinian, who are the reason why Scotland stands firm in our commitment to peace and human rights. We have consistently called for a ceasefire, humanitarian aid to reach the people of Gaza and recognition of a two-state solution—the route to lasting peace in the region. That is why the amendment lodged by the Scottish Government reiterates our support for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid, while also recognising our position that we do not believe that public funding should be spent on the manufacture of weapons or munitions. Despite that, I understand and recognise the questions that have been posed about the process that Scottish Enterprise operates in relation to human rights due diligence in awarding any funding.”
“Images are imprinted on my mind of small, lifeless bodies—in many cases, the same size as or smaller than my toddler—that have been recovered from rubble, each of them precious. They are just as precious as the small, lifeless bodies of the Bibas family toddlers, who were returned to their families in black coffins. I was struck by something that Humza Yousaf said recently, which captures it better than anything else that I have seen. He said: “Every child in this world—Israeli, Palestinian, or any other nationality—deserves to grow up loved, safe, and happy. There can never be any justification for kidnapping or killing children.” Ben Macpherson and Maggie Chapman talked about the impossibility of grappling with the sheer numbers who have been killed. I visualise my daughter and imagine the pain of her death thousands of times over.”
“I will begin by acknowledging the concerns that have been raised during the debate. The issues before us—the role of public funding and the gravity of what has happened in Gaza— are important and I take them very seriously. I recognise the deep emotional and ethical considerations that have been expressed today, and I thank members from across the chamber for contributing so powerfully to the conversation. Very few of us in here can even begin to imagine the depths of the horrors that we have touched on this afternoon. The events of 7 October 2023 and the situation that has occurred in Gaza since then are devastating. Far too many innocent men, women and children have lost their lives.”
“The British Medical Association in Scotland warns that more funding alone will not solve the NHS crisis. It says that we need fundamental reform, not short-term fixes. Meanwhile, the benefits bill is soaring, with the SNP increasing spending by nearly £800 million this year—far more, proportionally, than is spent on the equivalent in the rest of the UK. The cost of the adult disability payment rose from £2.7 billion in 2023-24 to £3.2 billion this year and is set to reach £3.6 billion next year. I recognise that that is a valuable benefit for many, but nobody beyond the Holyrood bubble believes that it is always an investment to park people who could be working on sickness benefits instead of getting them fit and well and back into employment.”
“Across Scotland, councils are being forced to raise council tax to cover the impact of historical SNP cuts and Labour’s jobs tax. We have calculated that Labour has cost Scotland £6.8 billion since it came to power last year, through the national insurance contributions increase, the farm tax, the scrapping of the winter fuel payment and the full-frontal assault on Scotland’s oil and gas sector. Despite the decisions of Rachel Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer, the Scottish Government still is not short of money this year. It will receive resource spending that is set to amount to £48.3 billion, with an overall budget that is higher than ever before. Ministers have the resources but they lack the policies and the sense of purpose to drive productivity in our public services.”
“For years, the SNP has failed to pass on business rates relief to Scotland’s shops, pubs and restaurants. Despite the ferries and the deposit return scheme, John Swinney still believes that his Government can spend money more wisely than the businesses that generated it in the first place. This year, we called on the Scottish Government to support 100 per cent rates relief for hospitality venues and called for rates relief to be extended in full to retail and leisure businesses. Ministers have received £140 million in Barnett funding, but they are passing on less than £30 million of that. When pubs and shops close, the SNP and Labour will share the blame for the combined effects of their budget decisions. Many third sector providers risk going to the wall as a result of Labour’s tax on jobs, and this budget does nothing to support them.”
“Will Craig Hoy give way? Craig Hoy: I do not think that I have time— actually, I will give way. Kate Forbes: It is remarkable to see the Conservatives full of such great ideas these days, considering the fact that they were in office for 14 years and presided over some of the greatest waste that this country has ever seen—not least the personal protective equipment scams. Craig Hoy: I dare not remind the minister of the two ferries that cost nearly half a billion pounds after a dodgy procurement process. It is not just workers and homeowners who are being ground down by the SNP’s high-tax regime; it is the businesses that are the lifeblood of our local economies. The Scottish budget has lost £800 million of revenue due to the SNP’s failure to grow the Scottish economy.”
“We continue to engage with the UK Government as it attempts to repair EU relations, and we support action to improve the trading environment, especially through a sanitary and phytosanitary agreement for our food, drink and agriculture sectors and regulatory co-operation to improve conditions for trade. However, as I am sure the member will agree, the best relationship that Scotland can have involves being in the”
“What representations has the Scottish Government made to the United Kingdom Government about forging closer co-operation with the EU to mitigate those impacts and reduce the trade barriers that are in place? Kate Forbes: As Gordon MacDonald sets out, it is clear from the statistical evidence that Brexit has had a severe impact on Scotland’s economy. Economic analysis such as that provides further evidence of the scale of that impact. It has been a major contributor to food prices going up and has wiped billions of pounds from the economy and tax revenues compared with EU membership—money that could and should have been spent on our national health service.”
“Trade barriers can pose significant challenges to our economy by restricting international trade—that depends on the countries and the products or services that are affected. Addressing trade barriers is important for economic growth, making it easier for Scottish businesses to trade, improving efficiency and reducing costs and prices. Gordon MacDonald: Recent analysis suggests that Scottish exports could be approximately 7 per cent lower than they would have been if we had continued to hold European Union membership, which equates to a loss of about £3 billion for sectors such as chemicals and pharmaceuticals, with output down by 9 per cent, computer and electronics equipment, with output down by nearly 8 per cent, and agrifood, with output down by 5 per cent.”
“Further to that, we have invited the local authority to work with us in relation to its Gaelic grant bids for next year, including in relation to school transport. Local authorities will receive additional support based on their need to transport Gaelic-medium education pupils to neighbouring authorities. For Falkirk Council, that support equates to an additional £19,000 in its local government settlement for 2025-26. I am happy to keep Michelle Thomson updated on the progress of the discussions. Trade Barriers (Impact on Economy) 5.”
“Although the Scottish Government provides £13,000 directly to cover costs, the actual cost to the authority in 2024-25 was £83,000. Given the Scottish Government’s commitment to enhancing opportunities for GME, what specific measures can the cabinet secretary outline to combat the significant shortfall in transport funding, which threatens opportunities for learners? Kate Forbes: I say at the outset that I hope that the issue can be resolved in a way that allows young people from the Falkirk Council area to continue to have access to Gaelic-medium education provision. My officials have been in touch with the council on the matter. As Michelle Thomson says, I understand that any decision has been delayed for at least a month. The Scottish Government provides £13,000 directly to Falkirk Council to support transport costs.”
“We are committed to supporting the growth of Gaelic-medium education throughout Scotland. A range of measures are in place to promote that growth, including capital and revenue funding, the provision of resources, professional support for Gaelic-medium education teachers, guidance for local authorities and support for parents. In addition, a range of additional measures will be included in the Scottish Languages Bill, which is making progress through the Scottish Parliament. Michelle Thomson: Falkirk Council is due to decide on the removal of transport provision for pupils who attend GME in neighbouring local authorities and is engaging on the implications with Bòrd na Gàidhlig. As ever, costs are a consideration.”
“The preferred option of both the Scottish and Welsh Governments, which is for repeal and replacement with a fairer, more transparent, and actually workable system of regulatory co-operation, has been unilaterally ruled out. As matters stand, we still face the prospect of laws that are passed in the Parliament being nullified at the stroke of a pen in Whitehall by whatever Administration is in power.”
“Organisations from NFU Scotland to Alcohol Focus Scotland have made the risks plain. Just last month, Scottish Environment LINK called the act “entirely unfit for purpose” and said that it “works directly against the principles of devolution”. It warned of “years of inertia, delay and uncertainty” if the act’s impact on devolution is not addressed. Against that background, last month, the UK Government announced a statutory review of the act. Despite the profound damage that it does to the powers of the Parliament, there was no substantive engagement with the devolved Governments or devolved legislatures on the scope and terms of reference of the review.”
“I hope that we will hear from Neil Bibby later in the debate, but during the debate of 3 October 2023, he said: “the Conservatives passed the UK Internal Market Act 2020 even though the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Senedd withheld consent. Members will recall that my party—the Labour Party—voted against that legislation here in Scotland and in Wales. We also opposed it at Westminster—that makes it all three Parliaments—because of the implications for devolution and concern about the market access principles.” —[Official Report, 3 October 2023; c 32.] The Scottish Labour Party’s assessment of the act’s impact on devolution is just as correct today as it was in October 2023. The risk that the act poses to the Parliament and to policy innovation is felt across Scotland.”
“It is flatly untrue that the IMA is necessary to protect intra- UK trade. It is perfectly possible to create a balanced, proportionate and rules-based system of regulatory co-operation, if there is good will and political imagination on all sides. That is what we have been trying to achieve through positive engagement with the other Governments of the UK in the development of common frameworks. It is not just the Scottish Government that is clear that the act must go. The former Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford described the act correctly as a “smash and grab” on devolution. Less than 18 months ago, the Labour Party in Scotland was clear about the threat that the IMA poses, when it backed a motion calling for its repeal.”