Official Report 1017KB pdf
Independence (Speech)
More than four out of five businesses in Scotland fear that they might go bust within 12 months. Around one in six people in Scotland are trapped on national health service waiting lists, with tens of thousands forced to pay for private treatment. Drug death rates are still the worst in Europe, with 4,570 lives lost since the Scottish National Party declared a national mission. All those issues need the Government’s urgent attention now, so why on earth did John Swinney give a speech today all about independence?
Let me reassure Russell Findlay that all those issues command my attention. They are the constant focus of the work of my ministers and my Cabinet and of my personal attention as First Minister, because, as I said this morning, I am absolutely determined to focus on the priorities of the people of Scotland. One of the things that the people of Scotland are concerned about is that their standard of living has been static for most of the past 10 years of austerity, bequeathed to us by the Conservative United Kingdom Government. What independence offers for Scotland is—
Members: Nothing.
Thank you, members.
What independence offers for Scotland is a fresh start, and that will be positively welcomed by the people of Scotland.
The title of John Swinney’s speech today was “Respecting Scotland’s Right to Decide”. That is right. That from the party that has never, not for a single minute, respected the decision that Scotland made. He said today—let me quote him, because it is absolutely priceless:
“You can’t just support democracy when it suits you.”
First Minister, the fringe festival is over—enough with the terrible jokes. Scotland did decide. Two million people voted to reject division, and they are still demanding that the SNP Government gives it a rest and focuses on what matters. When will he ever learn to take no for an answer?
One of the points that I made this morning is that, since the 2014 referendum and by 2030, a million individuals in Scotland will not have had the opportunity to decide on our constitutional future. One in four of the population will not have had the opportunity to decide how this country should be governed. I think that, when we have very substantial support in the opinion polls for Scottish independence and a clearly expressed desire of people to decide on their constitutional future, there should be no roadblocks in the way of the people of Scotland exercising their democratic right to decide on their future. That, after all, is democracy, and I am proud to champion it.
In John Swinney’s grand declaration of Leith today, he referenced Scotland’s claim of right. Film buffs will know that this nationalist battle cry comes exactly 30 years since the release of “Braveheart”. He has done everything but paint his face blue, while Scots are blue in the face, saying to the SNP, “Enough is enough”.
I really hate to break it to the First Minister, but John Swinney is not William Wallace—nor is he even Mel Gibson. We know his game. He knows exactly what he is up to. He is desperately trying to get the focus off the SNP’s dismal record of failure on the economy, schools, ferries, drugs, crime, health and everything else. Therefore, this week, he cynically focuses on independence and international affairs. Is it not time that he got back to the day job?
Well, I was here on Tuesday, leading a debate on the Government’s priorities for Scotland and, in that debate, I set out—[Interruption.]
Let us hear one another.
In that debate, I set out the fact that Scotland is now seeing in-patient waiting lists falling, the number of general practitioners increasing, the number of drug deaths—which is still far too high—falling, and young people delivering the best examination results since 2019, before the pandemic.
I notice that there was no round of applause from the Conservatives for the young people of Scotland who delivered an outstanding examination performance, but I am proud of them and all that they have achieved.
What the Scottish Government is doing—[Interruption.]
Let us hear one another.
What the Scottish Government is doing is delivering on the priorities of the people of Scotland. That is what my Government is focused on. I want to make sure that Scotland is not inhibited by the failures of Westminster, and that we have the ability to democratically choose the future of independence. I am confident that the people of Scotland will make that choice.
Scotland is inhibited by the failures of this rotten Government. When John Swinney became First Minister, he quite understandably tried to present himself as a more decent front, distancing himself from the chaos of Humza Yousaf, but the mask has now well and truly slipped. Despite what he said today, he is not focused on the economy, education or anything else that truly matters to the people of Scotland, who pay our wages, and he is not doing anything to help to improve people’s lives. The same old John Swinney is back: obsessed with independence and distracted from the day job. Does he not realise that the majority of Scots want to tell him, “Move on, John”?
Russell Findlay seemed to miss the fact that, on Monday, the Government set out—no, not set out but delivered—the abolition of peak rail fares in Scotland, which will help—[Interruption.]
While all the shouting is going on, I will set out to Parliament—
Sorry, First Minister, but I say to members that many people wish to put questions today, so let us continue with our business and let us hear one another.
On Monday, when the Government delivered on its commitment to abolish peak rail fares, commuters travelling from Glasgow to Edinburgh daily saw their travel costs reduced by 48 per cent. That is an astonishing saving for households in the country and for people commuting, but even that cannot be welcomed by Russell Findlay today.
I do not really think that Russell Findlay is in the strongest position to lecture me—[Interruption.]
Thank you, members.
He just needs to look at the words of his former colleague, Jeremy Balfour, to see how moderate Conservatives feel about the outrageous leadership that Russell Findlay is delivering. What we are seeing in Scotland is Russell Findlay—[Interruption.]
Thank you.
—in a partnership with Nigel Farage, and Scotland is going to send both of them packing.
National Health Service
This summer, I travelled to every part of our country and, in every community, the people I met had one clear priority: fixing our national health service. However, this morning, John Swinney showed that fixing the NHS will never be his priority. Instead, he is trying to use independence to hide from his failures and is desperately trying to cling on to power, but it is not going to work.
Over this summer, we have seen NHS waiting lists soar to include almost 900,000 Scots. More than 100,000 Scots have been waiting more than a year to be seen on the NHS, there are record levels of people paying for their own procedures due to this Government’s failures, and Scotland still has the highest rate of drug deaths in Europe. Do Scots not deserve a First Minister whose number 1 priority will be fixing our NHS?
Well, they have that, and they do not need to change the First Minister as long as I am here.
Let me give Anas Sarwar some statistics on what is going on: 97 per cent of people leave Scottish hospitals without their discharge from hospital being delayed; the number of operations that were performed in July was the highest in five years—and an 8.9 per cent increase compared with the number for July last year; our rapid cancer diagnostic services have reduced patients’ waiting time from referral to diagnosis to an average of 14 days; and the number of hip and knee operations reached an all-time high in 2024. That is because the health secretary and I are absolutely focused on improving the performance of the NHS, and that approach is delivering for the people of Scotland.
It is okay, First Minister—I know that you are tired, but you have only about eight months left, so I would not worry about it.
Always speak through the chair, Mr Sarwar.
John Swinney is not the only knackered Scottish National Party politician who has given up on fixing our NHS. Yesterday, health secretary Neil Gray abruptly abandoned the SNP’s flagship promise to end waits of more than a year in our NHS. On the same day that the news broke that more than 1,000 Scots lost their lives to drugs in 2024, what did Neil Gray do? He took to social media to ask people whether they had seen the good news about Scotland’s NHS. That was on the same day that more than 1,000 deaths to drugs were revealed.
There are record waiting lists, with no plan to fix them; a record number of Scots are being forced to pay for their healthcare; and we have the highest drug deaths rates in Europe. This Government is so out of touch. Is it any wonder that the Patient Safety Commissioner has said that we have a bed crisis and that waiting lists are imploding under the SNP?
In-patient waiting lists are falling. That is what is happening under the SNP. In-patient waiting lists are getting smaller as a consequence of the interventions that we made.
I put to the Parliament a range of measures that would expand the number of procedures and appointments that were envisaged in the national health service. We surpassed our original targets with that investment, and we put in place the largest-ever financial settlement to expand the service’s capacity. What is that achieving for us? It is helping us to roll out national treatment centre activity around the country; to deliver an increased number of operations; and to make sure that we have the largest number of hip and knee operations, which are at an all-time high.
Those are all things that the budget deal put in place. The only problem with the budget deal is that Anas Sarwar refused to vote for it. How has he got any credibility on the health service when he cannot even put his finger on the button to support the Government’s budget? It is laughable.
The First Minister is saying that the Patient Safety Commissioner is wrong, and his response just proves that he is completely and utterly out of touch. It is clear that John Swinney and his knackered Government are totally out of touch with the reality that Scots are facing.
You are just making a fool of yourself.
I hate to say it to the finance secretary, but the only one making a fool of themselves here is the Scottish Government.
Peter Black, a grandfather from Lanarkshire with stage 4 cancer, was forced to wait 15 hours, through the night, to be seen at the accident and emergency department at Wishaw general hospital. Peter was only seen after a relative contacted the chief executive of the health board to complain. Why should it take that? Does every family have to complain to the chief executive? Peter’s daughter, Nicola, told me:
“No family should have to experience what we have, but I know that that is the reality for thousands of people.”
The system is broken, and it feels like the SNP has totally abandoned the NHS. Is it not the case that our NHS will not survive a third decade of this tired, knackered, out-of-touch and incompetent SNP Government?
In relation to that individual case, I apologise to people who have to wait too long for treatment. The length of wait in the case that Mr Sarwar puts to me is unacceptable. If he will send me the details, I will look at it very specifically and get an answer from the chief executive of NHS Lanarkshire.
In the wider context, the performance of Scotland’s core A and E system has outperformed that of the systems in England and Wales for the past 10 years. I accept that that is no consolation to an individual who has to wait too long or to their family, but the general performance of A and E departments in Scotland’s national health service is stronger than that in the rest of the United Kingdom. As I recounted to the Parliament on Tuesday, the numbers of waits for eight and 12 hours in our accident and emergency departments are falling.
I want to ensure that people get treatment as quickly as they need to. In Scotland, 1 million people go into and out of A and E departments within four hours every year. We have to ensure that that performance is strengthened. The Government is absolutely focused on doing exactly that.
Council Tax Debt
Scots are trapped in almost £2 billion of council tax debt. They are locked into poverty and are living in fear of bailiffs at their door. Some of the families that are trapped in that situation spoke to Aberlour. They said:
“I felt like I was stuck in a hole, and I was getting deeper into it, and I wasn’t going to be able to get out of it.”
They also said:
“You worry about being seen as a bad parent. Or you worry and are upset that your kids are missing out on things or treats and stuff like that.”
Thousands of families across Scotland are trapped in that situation. The rules for council tax debt in Scotland are four times as harsh as they are in England, which is trapping families, in some cases, with unpayable debts for decades. The Scottish Greens have a plan to end that scandal and bring our debt collection rules into line with the rest of the United Kingdom by changing the Housing (Scotland) Bill. Will the First Minister support our plan to end that cruel regime and break the cycle of poverty that so many families are stuck in?
Before I answer Mr Greer’s question, I express my congratulations to Ross Greer and Gillian Mackay on their election as co-leaders of the Scottish Green Party. I extend my admiration to Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater for their service and I look forward, as I do with all party leaders, to co-operating on the issues that require our co-operation in a Parliament in which no one party has a majority at present.
On the substance of Mr Greer’s point, I acknowledge that financial distress can be a significant source of difficulty for families and that it can increase the challenges that they face. That is why the Government’s agenda is absolutely focused on eradicating child poverty. That is my key priority and it is at the heart of the Government’s agenda. The support that we put in place is designed to do that, with measures such as the Scottish child payment. That does not exist in England and Wales and it is a significant measure that supports families who are in difficulty. On other occasions, we have taken steps to remove council tax debt. Ms McAllan, the Cabinet Secretary for Housing, and I are very happy to engage in discussions with Mr Greer about the proposals that he wishes to bring forward for the Housing (Scotland) Bill, which is coming to the Parliament for consideration.
I thank the First Minister for his kind words.
Energy bills are sky high, the weekly shop costs double what it used to, a meal deal can be a fiver now and a jar of coffee can cost £7.50. One in five households are living from payslip to payslip, and they are terrified of how they will pay their bills if something goes wrong.
Yet not everyone is having a hard time. The richest 2 per cent of people now have more wealth than half the population combined. Billionaires should never be getting tax breaks, but they are. Some of Scotland’s richest people pay no business rates for their shooting estates. We are missing out on millions of pounds for our schools, libraries and health centres. It is indefensible that some of the richest people on the planet get a 100 per cent tax break from the Scottish Government. The Scottish Greens have a plan to end that injustice. Does the First Minister really think that billionaire-owned shooting estates need a tax break? Should aristocrats get blank cheques, while the poorest have bailiffs at their door?
The issues that Mr Greer raises relate to the budget process, which the Government needs to go through. We will happily engage with the member on those issues, as we will with all parties. On his point about family and household costs, I totally agree with him about the burden of energy costs. I do not think that the situation has been helped by the failure of the Labour Government at Westminster to deliver on the promises that were made to people. People were promised that there would be a reduction in their energy bills of £300, yet energy bills are higher now than when the Labour Government came to power. My simple response to Mr Greer, the Parliament and the people of Scotland is this: if you want to work out what a Labour Government would look like, look at the shambles that is at Westminster today.
Road Traffic Incidents (Trunk Road Network)
To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to reduce the number of road traffic incidents on the trunk road network, in light of reports of a number of serious accidents over the summer. (S6F-04246)
I express my sympathies to anyone who is affected by the loss of a loved one or who has been injured on our roads. The Scottish Government is investing a record £48 million in road safety in this financial year, including just over £12 million on trunk road safety engineering. Transport Scotland regularly liaises with Police Scotland on road safety issues and undertakes an annual assessment of the safety performance of the trunk road network. Mitigation measures are then prioritised for delivery. That robust approach ensures that the funding targets specific locations with a direct focus to improve safety and to save lives.
Recently, there have been five serious road traffic accidents on the A84 at Blair Drummond, in my constituency. What action is being taken following the 2019 Transport Scotland review of the area? Will the Cabinet Secretary for Transport meet me and concerned community members to discuss it?
I understand the concerns that have been raised by Evelyn Tweed about that junction. I understand that there is an on-going police investigation into recent claims in the area; that will be subject to review by Transport Scotland.
I would be happy for ministers to meet Evelyn Tweed and her constituents to discuss the issue. It is important that we are responsive to the challenges that are faced on the road network. Transport Scotland and the Cabinet Secretary for Transport look carefully at all these incidents to identify where we can take action to improve road safety. I am happy for those arrangements to be put in place.
Too many people are dying in accidents on the A75. Will the First minister therefore add his voice in support to the campaign launched by Finlay Carson and me to save lives by expediting the dualling of the A75?
The Government has taken a number of measures to improve road safety on the A75 and to improve the road. There are on-going discussions in relation to the upgrade of the road, and the Government will play its full part in all those discussions.
Supreme Court Judgment
To ask the First Minister whether he will provide an update on the steps that the Scottish Government is taking as a result of the Supreme Court judgment in For Women Scotland Ltd v the Scottish ministers. (S6F-04252)
The Government has made clear since the Supreme Court ruling that we accept the judgment and that we are taking forward detailed work that is necessary as a consequence. A working group convened by the permanent secretary is actively considering the implications of the judgment across every key area of Government.
As a result of that work, action has already been taken, including updated guidance for the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018 and amendments to the public appointments recruitment process for regulated public bodies, through which the act is applied. Through joint working with Police Scotland, we will publicly consult on the stop-and-search code of practice before the end of this year. Actions have been taken. We also continue to engage with the Equality and Human Rights Commission while we await its updated code of practice, which I understand is yet to be submitted to the United Kingdom Government.
What the First Minister has said is a huge insult to women and to the women who are protesting outside today. First Minister, we are not buttoned up at the back. It has been months since the Supreme Court judgment and the Court of Session decision on single-sex toilets in schools. Children have gone back to school now and teachers, some of whom are in the gallery today, are still being told to follow the Scottish National Party Government’s unlawful supporting transgender pupils in schools guidance. They are fearful for their jobs if they do not do so. The City of Edinburgh Council has acted now because delaying would be illegal. This SNP Government is showing wilful ignorance. Why is the First Minister deliberately ignoring the rule of law?
On a point of order, Presiding Officer—
I will address any points of order after we have finished First Minister’s question time, Ms Grahame.
The Government is undertaking the work that I set out in my earlier answer to Tess White. On the issue of schools guidance, we are committed to ensuring that the supporting transgender young people in schools guidance is fit for purpose. As with any significant legal or policy developments, we are considering what developments are required in the guidance to ensure that all aspects of that analysis are taken forward. There is complex work under way in that respect and the Government is doing that work.
The Supreme Court has been absolutely clear: sex, in law, means biological sex, and single-sex provisions must be respected.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission told the Government not to wait before acting, yet we still see confusion across all our public bodies, from schools to prisons to the national health service and local authorities. If Government lawyers are not there to advise ministers to follow the law, will the First Minister explain what, exactly, they are there for? Will he now commit to ensuring that all publicly funded bodies comply with the judgment in full and without delay?
As I have explained in my answers and as has been explained by other ministers, the Government is undertaking the careful, detailed legal work that is required to put in place the provisions that are required following the Supreme Court case. We have taken some of the actions that we have been able to take to date, and we will continue to pursue the other issues as we take forward that work.
Government lawyers support the Government in its work to ensure that, at all times, the Government is acting within the law.
Water Supply
To ask the First Minister, in light of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s warnings of water scarcity over the summer and the introduction of restrictions on water abstraction last week in some areas, including north Fife, what action the Scottish Government is taking to secure water supply in Scotland in the face of changing climate conditions. (S6F-04244)
It is clear that climate change is driving more extreme weather, and, this summer, very dry conditions have been seen across Scotland, particularly in the east. Today, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has confirmed that the number of areas that have significant water scarcity has increased to 10.
With SEPA and Scottish Water, we are implementing Scotland’s national water scarcity plan, to support those who are affected. I recognise the seriousness of the situation, particularly for producers. SEPA is working closely with affected water abstractors—principally, NFU Scotland and the Scotch Whisky Association, and others—to minimise the impact where possible.
Our investment in resilience measures over many years means that Scottish Water is able to maintain supplies to all parts of Scotland during prolonged dry periods. However, supplies are clearly not infinite, so I encourage everyone to use water responsibly.
In the past week, I and other MSPs who represent the east of Scotland, including the First Minister, had an online meeting with Scottish Water, at which we heard about the work that it is doing. That includes its efforts to get people to reduce water usage, which I support. I have also been in touch with SEPA over the past few months, and I thank the staff at Scottish Water and SEPA for the work that they have done to manage the situation.
However, looking forward to the medium and longer term, does the First Minister recognise that there is a need to review water infrastructure and water resilience? For farmers, this has been a difficult year, and it is predicted that food production will be well down as a result of the dry spells. NFU Scotland has said:
“Building resilience must be a shared priority between growers, regulators and policymakers.”
Will the First Minister agree to look at what we need to do in the medium term to put in more water storage to support farmers and others who draw water, and at the issue of reservoirs and whether we need to increase capacity across Scotland in the medium and longer term?
Not for the first time, Mr Rowley has raised significant issues and provided an indication of where the solutions lie. I very much welcome the content of his question and express the willingness of ministers to engage with him on those points.
The situation has been acute. This year, I started to receive a weekly water scarcity warning from SEPA in April. Normally, I would probably begin to receive such warnings in August. That gives a practical indication of the effects of climate change.
Mr Rowley will be familiar with the Government’s priority of tackling climate change, which is part of the solution. Another part of the solution is the constant improvements that are being made to water infrastructure around the country. A significant upgrade has just been completed in my constituency, in the city of Perth, to deal with the issues that Mr Rowley has raised. Such developments, which are going on around the country, often cause some disruption to members of the public, and we have to wrestle with that, too.
Mr Rowley’s final point was about the importance of water resilience and what more must be done to secure that. That obviously has an effect on capital priorities, but the Government will be happy to engage with Mr Rowley and other interested members on those questions, which are very much on the agenda of the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy.
Last week, 6,000 people in Berwickshire, including vulnerable people and farmers with livestock, were left without water. I welcome Scottish Water’s commitment to a full investigation of that issue, but will the First Minister confirm whether Scottish Water will provide full compensation to all the affected customers and will he outline what action is being taken to ensure that Borders residents are not left without access to water again?
I understand the inconvenience for members of the public when there are occasional interruptions to water supply. That happens very infrequently, when issues affect individual water systems around the country. I know that Scottish Water worked quickly to restore supplies and provided water to the affected households to ensure that they received an adequate supply during that period. I understand the inconvenience, but I recognise that Scottish Water worked hard to ensure that it offered resilience where there was an interruption to supplies.
Even in a country synonymous with rain, the effects of climate change will make it necessary to be prudent about how much water we use and when and why we use it. Therefore, what can the Scottish Government and its agencies do to publicise and promote everyday tips so that all of us can conserve water and ensure that we are using Scotland’s water sensibly?
The work that Mr Kidd talks about is important and those steps are all part of the water is always worth saving campaign by Scottish Water and SEPA. Although we have a history of abundant water supply, this summer has demonstrated that that can be challenged by climate change.
I experienced one example of extremely good work in the village of Dunkeld and Birnam, in my constituency, where, in collaboration with Scottish Water, the village was able to reduce water use by 1 million litres in one year. By community engagement and awareness and by doing simple things around the use of water, that small village in Perthshire was able to reduce water consumption. That is part of the mix of interventions required to address the point that Mr Rowley put to me, which Mr Kidd has reinforced.
I encourage more awareness of such campaigns and I will reflect with ministers on what more needs to be done to increase that awareness.
I have spoken before about water in the River Eden catchment and about the dramatic impact of flooding on the people of Cupar. There is now an impact on farmers, with broccoli, potatoes and even cereal crops being dramatically affected. I have argued before for a river catchment plan for the Eden, because we must get everyone together to deal with the extremes of climate change. Will the First Minister agree to such a catchment plan?
That is required not only for the River Eden; the current environment tells us that we need such river management plans in place across the board, and Mr Rennie is absolutely right to say that that can happen only if everybody is round the table to make it happen. I have seen such developments being successful in my constituency, but it required every party to be round the table to make that possible.
Mr Rennie highlights, as did Mr Rowley, the significant impact on this year’s agricultural harvest. Malting barley is not at the strength that we would want to see and some vegetable crops have not flourished to the extent that we would want them to, because of the absence of both rainfall and the ability to abstract water.
I will take away from today’s First Minister’s questions the importance of river management catchment areas and will ask ministers to engage with Mr Rennie and other interested members on how that can be taken forward at local level.
We move to general and constituency supplementaries.
Methanol Poisoning (Awareness)
A constituent of mine sadly lost her niece to methanol poisoning a few years ago. Since then, the family has campaigned to get the dangers of methanol included as a mandatory part of personal, social, health and economic education in England. Will the First Minister join me in reiterating the dangers of methanol poisoning and confirm whether the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills will meet me to discuss what more can be done to raise awareness in Scottish schools?
First, I express my sympathy to Marie McNair’s constituent’s family. I am very concerned and sorry to hear of the example that has been set out about the impact of methanol poisoning. It is important that we have a comprehensive set of interventions to address all such issues of potential harm. I am happy to agree that the education secretary will meet Marie McNair to discuss our approach to education in respect of alcohol, medicines, drugs, tobacco and solvents as part of the wider curricular approach that we take in Scottish schools.
Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (Aberdeen)
Around 150 home owners in Aberdeen’s Balnagask area could lose tens of thousands of pounds because of the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, plunging them into debt and mental health crises. I notified the Government that I had found £20 million to fix that last spring, but the Cabinet Secretary for Housing still has not decided whether to release the funds. Will the First Minister instruct his cabinet secretary to urgently repurpose the £20 million and, if she will not, to use a fraction of the billions that were promised for housing this week to give a fair settlement to the Torry home owners who are affected by RAAC?
I recognise the importance of the issue that Liam Kerr raises and the worry that it will be causing his constituents. The cabinet secretary is actively engaged in considering the proposals that have been put to her and will come to conclusions very shortly. Mr Kerr and his constituents will be advised when that conclusion has been reached.
Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill
Legal advice published this week concluded that the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill would not be compatible with the European convention on human rights because,
“without justification, it contains no adequate safeguard protecting the position of those with disabilities where suicidal ideation is more likely, and who are, because of that feature of their disability, more likely to express a wish to die.”
In particular, the advice indicates that the bill would breach article 14 of the ECHR, which prohibits discrimination. Does the First Minister agree that that presents an insurmountable risk to disabled people’s equality and human rights in Scotland, should the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill be passed?
First of all, the Government takes a neutral stance on the bill, which is before Parliament just now. It is a member’s bill, not a Government bill, and the Government takes a neutral stance on it, so I can express only a personal opinion to Pam Duncan-Glancy.
As Ms Duncan-Glancy will know, I do not support the bill, and I do not support it for many of the reasons that she has just put on the record. I have enormous personal sympathy with the point that she raises. Parliament will have to wrestle with those issues as it considers the legislation, but I can only express to her my agreement with the point that she has made.
United Kingdom Budget
Will the First Minister set out the implications for the Scottish budget of the UK budget being delayed until 26 November?
This is a very unfortunate situation, to put it mildly. The lateness of the presentation of the UK budget will mean that the budget process of the Scottish Government will be under enormous pressure. Given that the Parliament will rise for the election around the middle of March, the window for scrutiny and delivery of the budget priorities, and particularly for the Government to fulfil its legal obligations in relation to the scrutiny by the Scottish Fiscal Commission, for example, will be very constrained.
We have to leave enough time for both parliamentary scrutiny of the budget and scrutiny of the Government’s choices by the Scottish Fiscal Commission, but the lateness of the presentation of the UK budget means that a very short number of weeks will be available in which that can be done before the start of the financial year in April 2026. It is a completely undesirable situation.
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government has, I think, written to the Finance and Public Administration Committee, and she will discuss the issues with the Scottish Fiscal Commission. The Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government have been left in an entirely undesirable situation as a consequence of the delay to the timetable for the United Kingdom budget.
Asylum
The Scottish National Party’s open-door policy to asylum is a sham. Even Susan Aitken, the SNP leader of Glasgow City Council, says that the number of asylum seekers is “unsustainable.” Peter Smith’s ITV report highlighted the farce of illegal migrants being prioritised for housing over legal migrants and Scots. Is it time that the First Minister was honest with the people and admitted that illegal immigration is crippling services in Glasgow?
I have set out my concern about where the debate on migration is going. I honestly do not think that Sandesh Gulhane’s contribution helps us one bit in trying to ensure that our country remains cohesive and united, as it has always been on those questions.
The issues that the city of Glasgow faces are fundamentally because of the inadequacy of the approach of the United Kingdom Home Office—Councillor Aitken made that point clearly. That is where there needs to be a realisation of the implications of those issues, and I encourage the Home Office to engage with Glasgow City Council on those particular questions.
I make it absolutely clear to anyone who is listening that I think that Scotland is a welcoming country. Under my leadership, it will remain a welcoming country, and that is something that we as a country should be proud of.
Saltires (Maryhill)
Hundreds of Scottish saltires have been put up in my constituency—predominantly, but not exclusively, in the Maryhill area. The saltire is an inclusive and welcoming symbol, representing tolerance. However, serious concerns have been raised by many of my constituents that there might be an attempt by the far right to hijack our country’s flag. Racist graffiti is starting to appear in my local areas, including the phrase “Sink the Boats.” The other day, one of my constituents was told to “Get back on their boat.”
Many people in Maryhill, from all backgrounds, have reached out to me with huge concern, and offering their love, support and solidarity for all of the people, including immigrants and asylum seekers, who have made their life in Maryhill. Will the First Minister show his solidarity with the people of Maryhill, the vast majority of whom are welcoming, tolerant and inclusive? What practical support can the Scottish Government offer our communities?
I could not have expressed that point better than Mr Doris has. I agree with him that the national flag of Scotland has always been represented as an inclusive flag that is there to draw all of us together in Scotland as an essential part of our national identity, and I want to ensure that is always the case.
I had the pleasure of being in Mr Doris’s constituency last Thursday at the launch of a magnificent partnership between Home-Start, Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board and Glasgow City Council. The partnership supports many vulnerable families in the Maryhill area, and I was glad that Mr Doris made it possible for me to be there at its launch. At the heart of that event was the spirit of inclusion; the welcome to people from other places who had made Glasgow and Maryhill their home and who were proud of that fact.
The Government will give leadership and practical support for community cohesion, because we believe—as Mr Doris does—that Scotland is best served by being an inclusive and welcoming country; it has been in the past and it must be in the future.
Homeless Project Scotland
The Homeless Project Scotland in Glasgow has done an incredible job of feeding people, giving them a bed for the night and saving their lives—in fact, 27,000 people have gone through its doors. However, the charity might be homeless if the planning committee at Glasgow City Council does not consent to allowing it to remain on Glassford Street. If it were to close, it would be devastating for many homeless people. Does the First Minister agree that Glasgow City Council must work with the Homeless Project to find an alternative home should planning consent not be granted? Would the First Minister consider—time permitting—visiting the project, which he has known about for some time? He would be very welcome if he did.
If Pauline McNeill will forgive me, I will not intrude on the planning application process—it is generally pretty tricky when ministers do that. However, I will say that the Homeless Project Scotland carries out an important role in supporting vulnerable individuals in our country. Therefore, regardless of the planning application, we must find ways of supporting such individuals. The Cabinet Secretary for Housing is planning to engage on the issue and perhaps visit the project. I will give consideration to that, because I want to ensure that we have in place practical support for people who are homeless.
I hope that the housing secretary’s statement to Parliament on Tuesday indicated the priority that we attach to improving housing supply. A lot of improvements to housing supply have been achieved in the past 12 months, and I am determined to build on that in the period ahead.
That concludes First Minister’s questions.
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body issued guidance that those attending in the public gallery should desist from wearing visible slogans. Does that direction apply to MSPs in the chamber? No matter what a slogan says, the issue is especially significant as we enter election periods.
That matter is not covered in our standing orders and there is nothing in the guidance in the code. However, as ever, I ask all members, as they do, to present themselves in the chamber dressed in a respectful manner, as a consequence of the role that we hold.
There will be a short suspension to allow those leaving the chamber and the gallery to do so.
12:46 Meeting suspended.Previous
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