Alexander Stewart
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party · Scotland
“Housing for older people is a key priority that is driven by an ageing population. Does the Scottish Government recognise that prioritising the right type of housing can improve quality of life and reduce the need for public services, particularly in health and social care? Màiri McAllan: I agree with that.”
“Suicide in young people has reached a crisis point. The breaking the silence suicide prevention project that has been piloted in schools in my region is a step in the right direction.”
“To ask the Scottish Government for what reason, despite an increase in the number of businesses pledging to pay the real living wage, the percentage of people actually being paid the real living wage or more has been decreasing for three consecutive years. (S6O-05654)”
“I thank the cabinet secretary for early sight of the statement. The Scottish National Party talks a good game on child poverty, but it has failed to back up those words with actions; it has failed to close the attainment gap, one in five children lives in poverty, and it has failed to make work a viable route out of poverty.”
“I spoke about not just the £90 million—now with a multiyear commitment—for our employability service, but also the £19 million that is going into the transport to employment offer, and the £15 million for childcare for priority families that need that support to enter employment.”
“The cabinet secretary is committed to increasing all benefits with inflation, but how much will that add to the already blooming benefit bill?”
The complete record
Every one of 374 lines we hold for Alexander Stewart, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 3 of 8.
“High initial costs such as maintenance and insurance, lack of experience and funding are all still major obstacles to community asset transfers taking place. What is the Scottish Government doing to remove those obstacles and support communities? Ivan McKee: As I indicated in my earlier answer, the Scottish Government has provided more than £32 million, which has enabled 249 organisations across the country to take advantage of the community asset transfer legislation that was introduced by this Government. The Government continues to look for opportunities through our broader work to build capacity in local organisations to enable them to take advantage of that legislation.”
“Growth deals are a unique way of delivering economic prosperity in Scotland because of the tripartite approach: the UK Government, the Scottish Government and local government are involved, and there is an opportunity for all of us to accelerate progress. The money has been committed and is protected, and it will be spent. We want to ensure that it delivers as many jobs as possible, so we will work cross-government to ensure that that is done. Glasgow City Regional Economy (Covid-19 Lockdown Impact) 8.”
“The Stirling and Clackmannanshire deal is a 10-year programme, and we are now operating in year 6. The Government promised that 5,000 jobs would be created. In June, it celebrated and defended the creation of only 82 jobs and claimed that projects were still at an early stage. Does the Deputy First Minister really think that, six years on, people in Stirling and Clackmannanshire will find that explanation anything but disappointing? Real progress and real job opportunities for the people of Stirling and Clackmannanshire are needed. Kate Forbes: I agree with the spirit of Alexander Stewart’s question, in that we want progress to be as rapid as possible.”
“Thirdly, we will continue to engage actively with the company, so that we understand as thoroughly as possible what impact the decision might have and what other options are available to us to safeguard the site, to support the workers and to protect the wider community from that impact. The Presiding Officer: That concludes the ministerial statement. Parliamentary Bureau Motion 17:47”
“The ExxonMobil site at Mossmorran has been a cornerstone of chemical production for 40 years. The closure reflects the huge challenges that have been caused by the high-tax and low- growth policies of Labour and the SNP, not forgetting the hostile environment that those parties have created for the oil and gas sector. What action is the Scottish Government taking to limit the damage that the decision will undoubtedly cause to the workforce and the wider community? Kate Forbes: Alexander Stewart exempts his own party, which was in government down south quite recently. I have outlined the options ahead of us. There is an option to support the skilled staff, and there is a second train of work, which we will do primarily through the task force, to look at new investment opportunities at the site.”
“I note that technology will advance in the years to 2045, and we are conscious that different technologies will suit different housing types across urban and rural Scotland. I therefore trust that, when the bill is taken forward, depending on what happens in the election and what the UK Government does with the cost of electricity, Alexander Stewart will see that flexibility being borne out.”
“Meeting energy efficiency standards can come at great expense for home owners and landlords, particularly in rural areas. In her statement, the cabinet secretary indicated that there will be grants of up to £9,000, together with loans for householders in island and remote rural areas, to connect to local district heat networks. Will she consider certain exemptions for rural properties when meeting those standards would create a significant financial burden for home owners, landlords and tenants? Màiri McAllan: I am sorry if I have picked up Alexander Stewart incorrectly, but I think that he was referring to exemptions from what would be proposed in the bill. The bill is intentionally drafted to offer flexibility in the type of technology.”
“Patients deserve better than a postcode lottery in dealing with cancer treatment, and better links between oncology services and palliative care are required. I hope that the Scottish Government can commit to delivering on its “Cancer Action Plan for Scotland 2023-2026” and ensure that no one who is living with secondary breast cancer is ever made to feel invisible or forgotten again because, at the moment, they are. 17:33”
“Without that data, we do not know how many people are living with the condition or are being treated, and we do not know how we can ensure improved outcomes for the future. That means that there are potentially thousands of people across Scotland who are not getting the treatment and support that they require. It is now nearly 10 years since the Scottish Government first committed to collecting data on those with secondary breast cancer in Scotland. It is time that we finally see real progress on the issue, and I hope that the minister will make that assertion in summing up. We also know that access to specialist nurses and palliative care is not consistent across health boards in Scotland.”
“For many people, living with the condition can mean a continuous cycle of hospital visits, treatment and much uncertainty. All too often, the experience is made even harder by a lack of recognition. The truth is that no accurate data exists on how many people are suffering from secondary breast cancer in Scotland. Public Health Scotland data shows that around 4,200 patients were living with secondary breast cancer in 2023. However, that does not include those who were diagnosed following a recurrence or spread of the disease. For our national health service, and for the many important third sector organisations that work alongside it, the lack of data means that it can be very difficult to tackle the issue.”
“October marked breast cancer awareness month, which was an opportunity to pause and recognise all those who have been affected by the condition in the past, and all those who are presently living with breast cancer. As Emma Harper’s motion highlights, it is also an opportunity to raise awareness of secondary breast cancer. Despite the condition’s serious nature, awareness and understanding of secondary breast cancer remain far too low. For example, many people are unaware that breast cancer can return and spread to other parts of the body, and there are many misconceptions around the symptoms that occur. Just as with many types of cancer, raising public awareness of secondary breast cancer is vital, and breast cancer awareness month is a huge opportunity for us to do that.”
“I am pleased to speak in the debate and I thank Emma Harper for bringing this important issue to the chamber. I also thank Breast Cancer Now and Make 2nds Count for their helpful briefings for the debate. Those organisations have worked tirelessly, alongside many fantastic organisations in the third sector, to highlight the issue of secondary breast cancer. I hope that colleagues can join me in paying tribute to some of those organisations and the important work that they do, which includes funding vital research, pushing for better access to specialist care and supporting patients and their families. That work reminds us that, although research and data are crucial, compassion and care are just as important to so many people.”
“I look forward to hearing from the minister in his summing up what steps the Scottish Government is taking to achieve those goals. As we have said, nobody should be put in such a position at the end of their life. We—the Government and us as a Parliament—have a role to play in ensuring that we do all that we can to help to end suffering. I commend Marie Curie and Paul Sweeney for what they have done on the issue so far. 17:17”
“The onus is on the Scottish Government to discuss how the issue could be dealt with and how funding could be provided. Marie Curie’s report shows us that dying in poverty is far more widespread than we think. It is also difficult for us to solve the problem. As we have seen, very little has happened to reduce the statistics between the surveys that came out in 2019 and those that came out in 2024. The suffering is not inevitable, nor is it necessary. Through access to all levels of Government, solutions can be put in place to tackle that. For all those who have suffered with end-of-life poverty in the past and for those who might be suffering as they go into the future, I hope that the Scottish Government can work constructively towards solutions in order to help to give people security.”
“In Clackmannanshire, which is in my region, transport barriers can limit access to specialist healthcare, and energy costs can make it very expensive for mains-powered medical devices to be plugged in at home. For those who are living with a terminal illness, such pressures can be overwhelming. They can also be challenging for unpaid carers, who remain the backbone of the social care system. Marie Curie rightly highlighted that local authorities have a role to play in tackling the issue. It identified the example from Manchester of discretionary council tax support, which is helping to support those with a terminal illness. Individual councils are well placed to decide how to provide extra support. Councils need to be properly funded in order to provide the right level of support.”
“In 2021, more than 56,000 people in Scotland died with a palliative care need, and the Scottish Government’s analysis shows that that figure could increase to 63,000 by 2040. I have no doubt that members on all sides of the chamber can agree that no one who is at the end of their life should have to spend their final days worrying about financial issues. As with many health-related issues, the problem does not affect all parts of Scotland equally. The Government’s palliative care strategy, which was published last year, identified that levels of palliative care services vary significantly across different health boards. In areas such as Glasgow and Dundee, the figure is one in three, but this is not just an urban problem; it affects rural communities such as the ones that I represent across Mid Scotland and Fife.”
“I am pleased to speak in this evening’s debate, and I thank Paul Sweeney for bringing this important issue to the chamber. As someone who previously served as my party’s spokesperson on older people, and as the current shadow cabinet secretary for social security, I am delighted to speak on this topic and to congratulate Marie Curie on its work. Marie Curie has raised issues that are important not just to the communities that I represent but to areas across Scotland. Its report, which comprises research by Marie Curie and by Loughborough University, shines a light on the reality for thousands of people across Scotland who are spending their final months in poverty. The basic statistics are quite grim—more than 6,500 people with a terminal illness are in poverty at the end of life.”
“We made £40 million available for that in the previous financial year, which delivered around 1,000 more affordable homes, and in the housing emergency action plan in September we doubled that to a further £80 million. If my figures are correct, that has translated into a further £2.2 million for Fife Council alone, and I would expect it to put the money to that use.”
“One key solution to the housing crisis is to empower councils to purchase homes to create more social housing. A report last year found that Fife Council had purchased only four homes in the Dunfermline area and that the council’s buy-back scheme was underspent by £3.5 million. What more can the Scottish Government do to ensure that councils buy up more housing stock to create more affordable homes for their areas? Màiri McAllan: Although we focus on creating the right conditions for the further development of affordable homes, we understand that we must deliver more now, while those homes are being built. Therefore, our focus in the past few years has been on directly funding councils to assist them both in turning round social housing voids and in acquiring homes on the open market, as Mr Stewart described.”
“We hope that the Scottish Government will take the findings of the report seriously and implement some or all of those common-sense proposals to support victims of domestic abuse wherever possible. That is the least that we can do as a Parliament to support them as they progress through a difficult time. 14:53”
“In Scotland, reoffending rates remain stubbornly high. We must also help young people to understand the dangers of domestic abuse and to recognise when a relationship is becoming abusive. With regard to those issues, I note that the Prevention of Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill, which was introduced by my colleague Pam Gosal, is currently being scrutinised by the Criminal Justice Committee. I urge the Scottish Government to support the bill’s important proposals on those issues when the time comes. Domestic abuse victims deserve and need proper support from the Scottish Government. Those individuals should not have to suffer for a single day longer than is necessary.”
“The Scottish Government must play a role in providing victims with the funding that they need to leave an abusive relationship. In respect of that, the fund to leave pilot scheme is very much welcome. That funding plays a vital part in easing the financial burdens that many victims have to deal with when they leave. The recently announced additional £500,000 for the fund is also welcome. However, the Government must now confirm whether it intends to make the scheme permanent, as the committee’s report calls for. The committee’s recommendations should be looked at in the light of the urgent need to stamp out domestic abuse altogether. Those of us who are committed to that want to see progress. Where appropriate, offenders should also have the chance to undertake rehabilitation, in order to lower the number of repeat offenders.”
“The committee report recommends that the Scottish Government work with COSLA to create a single point of contact within each council area where victims can seek support and advice. It also recommended that the Government work with COSLA to improve the consistency of financial support across different council areas. I hope that the Government will look at those recommendations closely. We also heard evidence that, in single-sex relationships, it is often the main earner who is the victim of abuse. That challenges the common narrative that financial control always aligns with financial power. It is important that the equally safe framework is able to reflect the needs and circumstances of different victims, including those with protected characteristics.”
“Evidence has shown that that is particularly the case for older victims and those with a disability. Age Scotland highlighted that long waiting lists for properties can act as a significant barrier to those individuals. If new care arrangements are also required, the situation becomes even more difficult. Among the issues in the committee’s report is access to advice and information. Too often, victims are not aware of where to turn when fleeing an abusive relationship. The Glasgow violence against women partnership revealed that a victim would contact, on average, up to 11 services before they get the information that they require. Local authorities have an important role to play in helping domestic abuse victims.”
“As a member of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, I am pleased to speak about the findings of our inquiry into financial considerations when leaving an abusive relationship. The committee’s report highlights the serious challenges that are faced by domestic abuse victims and how basic financial protections are still missing for many of those individuals. The most recent statistics show that more than 63,000 domestic abuse incidents took place in Scotland in 2023-24: that is one incident every eight minutes. The committee report confirms that, unfortunately, financial instability is one of the most common reasons why victims stay with their abuser. Many stakeholders were clear that victims who attempt to leave an abusive relationship often face unaffordable housing and rising living costs.”
“The LCM did not give a consent steer on the other clauses—namely clauses 89, 90, 92, 94 and 95—so the committee did not scrutinise them properly. The Scottish Government finally lodged a supplementary memorandum of consent on 3 October for the remaining bits of the bill, but the committee did not get the chance to scrutinise them at all. We accept that, in this instance, there have been issues about the timescales for deliberation at Westminster and in Holyrood, and the October recess has an impact on that. However, we wish to put on record our belief that there should be the fullest scrutiny of all aspects of all legislation. For those reasons, we shall not support the LCM this evening. 17:09”
“That is why the Scottish Conservatives agree with the principle of recovering wrongfully claimed funds and believe that the fraud-fighting toolkit must be modernised and strengthened. The Presiding Officer: I am aware that members are finding this difficult to follow, but I think that they sometimes underestimate how clearly their voices are carrying. Mr Stewart, please continue. Alexander Stewart: An LCM relating to the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill was considered by the Finance and Public Administration Committee in spring 2025, but that LCM only considered limited provisions in the bill. The Parliament then voted to give consent on 25 June 2025 in relation to clauses 72, 75, 78, 81, 83, 87 and 98.”
“For those reasons, the Scottish Conservatives will not support the legislative consent motion. Fraud in the public sector does not just mean financial loss—it erodes public trust. When fraudsters exploit the system, they undermine the social contract that binds hard-working Scots to the services that they fund. The £36 million fraudulent benefit claim that was highlighted by an article in The Scotsman back in August is a stark reminder of the challenges that are being faced. The Finance and Public Administration Committee recently sought answers from David Wallace from Social Security Scotland during his appearance before the committee on 16 September. His testimony was essential to members understanding our recovery of those funds. It was alarming to find that only 10 per cent of the funds lost to fraud in 2024-25 have been recovered.”
“The Parliament’s primary duty is to pass effective legislation, which, as members will agree, can be done only if there is effective scrutiny across the chamber and through committees. The LCM before us relates to an important issue: fraud prevention. The Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and David Wallace attended the Finance and Public Administration Committee back in September. Every penny of public money that is lost to fraud is a penny taken from the hard- working taxpayers of Scotland—money that could be spent on our schools, hospitals or roads. Nurses, teachers and workers across Scotland deserve a Parliament that protects their contributions with unwavering diligence. We do not serve Scots by cutting corners or bypassing domestic processes. Regrettably, the process surrounding this consent motion has done that.”
“That reflects not only significant investment from the Government but the fantastic work that has been undertaken on the ground by CAMHS staff. We recognise that there is variation in the system, and we are committed to working with health boards to support them to ensure that there is equity of access across all of”
“The statement indicates that there has been considerable improvement in CAMHS waiting times. However, some children are waiting as long as three years to access mental health support through the NHS, which is clearly unacceptable. What guarantees can the Scottish Government give that today’s announcement will result in waiting times being cut, or will we continue to leave our children behind? Tom Arthur: Long waiting times are not acceptable. In my statement and in response to questions from other members, I have highlighted the strong performance that we have seen in CAMHS—the 90 per cent target has now been exceeded for three consecutive quarters, and the median waiting time between referral and start of treatment is down to five weeks, compared with 12 weeks before the pandemic.”
“A recent report has uncovered that NHS patients in my region and across Scotland were forced to receive electric shock treatment against their will almost 1,100 times last year. In around 2,000 cases out of 4,000, that outdated procedure was performed on people who, because of their mental state, were deemed incapable of giving consent. How will the Scottish Government act to ensure that vulnerable patients are protected from receiving that ethically unacceptable procedure?”
“I truly commend them for the work they are doing to ensure that patients and families are supported. I look forward to hearing from the minister about the measures that the Scottish Government is taking to ensure that we can continue this vital work for the communities that we represent. 19:16”
“The theme for this year was stoma myth busters and its aim was to break down the myths and stigma surrounding stomas of all types. As well as promoting education and providing support for the stoma community, the day encourages people to share their stories to challenge misinformation and build a more supportive environment for patients who have to wear stomas. From first-hand family experience, I fully understand the vital need for early diagnosis, as well as the treatment that can be given, because it ensures that individuals who have a stoma can live a more normal life. I also want to acknowledge where we are with the NHS, because it is essential that the NHS continues to get the support that it requires, alongside the many charities that support individuals financially and the volunteers who come to support and encourage.”
“We all know that our NHS in Scotland is stretched, but I pay tribute to the staff working on the front line, who go above and beyond expectations to ensure that patients are supported. Many cancer charities have admirably stepped up to the challenge: Bowel Cancer UK and Beating Bowel Cancer, Bowel Research UK and many others are leading the charge in coaching the public in recognising symptoms of cancer. I pay tribute to the Scottish cancer coalition, which is a group of around 30 charities that decided to work together to address key challenges facing cancer patients in Scotland. Although it is not a public-facing body, it lobbies and engages with the Scottish Government and external bodies such as the Scottish Medicines Consortium. As today’s motion says, stoma awareness day was last Saturday and it was vitally important.”
“I am pleased to speak in support of this crucial issue, and I congratulate my colleague Edward Mountain on bringing the debate to the chamber, and on the courage that he has shown in speaking about the topic. I join him in acknowledging that Scotland is indeed leading the way on bowel cancer screening across the United Kingdom. The time between testing kits arriving on the doorsteps of the over-50s, and of those who would not normally receive a self-testing kit, is crucial. That is why it is critical to get out the message about recognising potential symptoms to members of the public of all ages. It is essential, in order that they have some opportunity to recognise potential symptoms, especially as we know that, if bowel cancer is diagnosed earlier, the outcomes are much better.”
“That is a substantial sum of public money, on which the Finance and Public Administration Committee rightly sought to challenge the Government. Presiding Officer, I am sure that you will agree that it is right that additional scrutiny takes place, just as it is important that we do not wave through LCMs without scrutiny. We accept that, in this instance, there have been issues relating to the timescales for deliberation at Westminster and at Holyrood, and the impact of the October recess on those. However, we wish to put on record that we believe that there should be the fullest scrutiny of all aspects of legislation. For that reason, we will not support the proposed suspension of standing orders at decision time. 18:41”
“Parliament’s prime duty is to pass effective legislation. I know that members will agree that that can be done only if effective scrutiny is undertaken by the Parliament and its committees. The legislative consent motion that will be debated tomorrow is important, as it relates to fraud prevention. As was intimated by the convener of the Finance and Public Administration Committee, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and David Wallace of Social Security Scotland were asked to appear before that committee on 16 September because of concerns about an article that appeared in The Scotsman in August, which implied that the Scottish Government was unwilling to chase up £36 million of fraudulent benefit claims.”
“There has been some encouraging language from the Scottish Government about the need to promote parity of esteem between different learning routes. Apprenticeships are of value to our future economy, as are university degrees, but apprenticeships get much less attention and much lower funding—as do college places; figures from the Funding Council show that, for the 2024-25 financial year, funding per college student is just £5,054, while the equivalent per university student is £7,558, which is nearly half as much again.”
“The Open University report “Business Barometer 2025” states that 56 per cent of Scottish businesses are experiencing skills shortages, while 39 per cent expect the skills gap to worsen in the next five years. To give an example from another sector, the number of extra construction workers that are needed in Scotland for the period from 2025 to 2029 is estimated at 3,590 per year, yet we simply do not have the apprenticeship places available to provide the training to meet that demand. In the words of Michelle Ferguson, director of the Confederation of British Industry Scotland, “Scottish Apprenticeships will be critical in building the future workforce”, but we are simply not providing enough of them.”
“The closures and cutbacks are entirely down to the choices that the SNP has made to deprioritise skills training for the future workforce that our colleges provide. Some, but not all, apprenticeships are delivered through our colleges; yet, already, there are concerns about the shortage of apprenticeship places. In 2024-25, learning providers requested around 34,000 apprenticeships to meet the needs of the economy, but the Scottish Government funded just over 25,000, which left a substantial gap. The trade body Engineering Scotland has estimated that 20 per cent of the skills demand from employers has been unmet due to those real- terms cuts in apprenticeship spending, and, elsewhere, businesses have expressed concern about the growing skills gap.”
“Colleges are fantastic institutions, as you have said. They are the skills engine for the Scottish economy. You have rightly identified the issues that are happening in Forth Valley College and Alloa. It is up to the Scottish Government to do more to retain students, maintain skills and secure facilities. That is what we fundamentally believe. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Always speak through the chair. Murdo Fraser: Alexander Stewart is absolutely right to point the finger at the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government cannot blame the situation on Westminster or an overall lack of resource. Over the past five years, during which college payments have reduced by 20 per cent in real terms, the overall Scottish Government budget has had a real-terms increase of 2.5 per cent.”
“I mentioned the potential role that libraries can play as so-called third places, to which people can go to support wellbeing endeavours and learn about digital inclusion and wider community connection, and I encourage Mr Stewart, his party and others across the Parliament to do what they can to help local authorities—which have the responsibility for the libraries in their areas—to adopt such an approach. I am sure that that will maximise the retention of the library network across Scotland, which is a goal that I support.”
“Libraries have been proven to boost literacy, particularly among children from disadvantaged backgrounds. At least 16 per cent of public libraries in Scotland have closed since 2008, while a quarter of pupils entering secondary school struggle to read, write and count properly. Does the cabinet secretary accept that closing libraries cannot be improving children’s literacy outcomes? Angus Robertson: For the obvious reason that Mr Stewart set out, I am keen to support any place that helps with literacy and learning, but we must be open-minded with regard to new ways in which libraries can provide services to people young and old.”
“It includes great investment to support low-income families and others through the current cost of living crisis. Storm Amy 2.”
“The Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s report also shows that in-work poverty has increased in Scotland, with more than 60 per cent of people in poverty being in a household where one or more people are in work. Is the cabinet secretary at all concerned that higher income tax in Scotland is pushing households into poverty? Shirley-Anne Somerville: The member will be well aware that the Scottish Government’s income tax policies ensure that the majority of people in Scotland pay less tax than they would pay elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Our progressive tax policy has allowed more than £1.5 billion-worth of additional investment in our public services. If the member wishes to see that progressive tax system change, he will have to suggest where else that £1.5 billion would come from.”
“Shirley-Anne Somerville: —that the opportunities in the Housing (Scotland) Bill, which the Scottish Conservatives did not— The Deputy Presiding Officer: I am keen to get a supplementary question in from”
“That is exactly why we are tackling areas such as the challenge that many people are not aware of the benefits that they are entitled to or are unaware of the support to enable people to apply for the benefits that they are entitled to. Social Security Scotland is unique in the United Kingdom in delivering local support to ensure that people get help in applying for their benefits. I recognise that there is, as Alexander Stewart says, an obligation not just on the Government but on local authorities to provide services for our veterans to ensure that they are not homeless. That is very much the prevention part of the work that we continue to do, and I have to say, Presiding Officer, that it is therefore disappointing— The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, cabinet secretary.”
“The Scottish Veterans Commissioner’s annual report found that there was poor progress on preventing veterans’ homelessness in 2023-24 and that there was incremental progress in 2025. What further work is the Scottish Government carrying out in conjunction with other public bodies to ensure that no veteran is forced to declare themselves homeless and that they can access benefits from Social Security Scotland? Shirley-Anne Somerville: I will begin with the actions that are being taken around devolved benefits. It is particularly important that we recognise that there are seldom-heard groups that find it difficult to access benefits—veterans are one of them, but they are not the only one. Many of those groups face shared challenges, so, if we can get the system right, we will be able to benefit not just veterans but others, too.”
“We cannot and will not vote for a bill that will stifle investment—but it looks as though that is what the Government’s priorities are. Màiri McAllan: However much Meghan Gallacher tries to explain it away, the Conservatives have completely undermined any credibility that they remotely had on impacting homelessness— Edward Mountain: Absolute nonsense.”