Contents
- General Question Time
- First Minister’s Question Time
- Point of Order
- Portfolio Question Time
- Scottish Land Commission (Appointment of Chair and Commissioners)
- Decision Time
- Marie Curie (75th Anniversary)
First Minister’s Question Time
Budget (Taxation)
Today marks 35 years since the bombing of Pan Am flight 103, which killed 270 innocent people. My thoughts and prayers and, I am sure, those of the whole chamber are with their families and friends, and with those in the Lockerbie community who fell victim to that senseless act of terror.
This week, the Scottish National Party’s budget has led to everyone in Scotland who earns more than £28,850 paying more tax than workers south of the border. In total, 1.5 million Scots will pay more than people doing exactly the same jobs elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Does Humza Yousaf think that it is fair that a majority of Scots will pay more tax than people south of the border who earn the same wage?
I add my thoughts and my prayers for all those who continue to feel the impact of the tragic and terrible terrorist attack in Lockerbie on 21 December 1988. This year marks the 35th anniversary of that attack. I spoke to David Mundell this week; we both reflected on the incredible courage that we saw not just from the emergency services, but from the local communities. Many of those people are not named and their stories are not known, but through their courageous action they ensured that there is an enduring bond between families who were impacted in Scotland and those in the United States and around the world. My thoughts continue to be with all those who feel that loss.
In relation to issues around the budget, first and foremost let me make it absolutely abundantly clear that the majority of people in Scotland will pay less tax than people in the rest of the United Kingdom. There are no ifs, no buts and no maybes about that.
The budget, at its very heart, is about values. The Conservative Party, in its autumn statement, chose to give people who are on higher salaries, like Douglas Ross, a tax cut of £754. In contrast, we are asking the top 5 per cent—the highest earners, like Douglas Ross—to pay a little more in tax. By doing so, we are able to give our national health service an uplift of over £500 million. That is a real-terms increase for our NHS, while the Conservative Party has cut funding for the NHS in England.
We will prioritise an uplift to the NHS, an uplift to education—
Briefly, First Minister.
—and an uplift to Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The Conservatives have prioritised a tax cut for the wealthiest people, like Douglas Ross. Those are not values that I believe in, and I do not believe that they are values that Scotland believes in, either.
At its heart, the SNP’s budget is about Scots paying more and getting less. That is what is going to happen as a result of the budget. The SNP tax hikes on Scottish workers will damage our economy, and they risk forcing highly skilled valuable workers out of Scotland.
Not true.
The First Minister says that that is “Not true”—[Interruption.]—and he is repeating it. Let me read to the First Minister what Iain Kennedy, the chairman of the British Medical Association’s Scottish council, said. The quote is:
“One of the unintended consequences of this measure may push more of these doctors out of the NHS to jobs elsewhere or retirement—or force them to cut overtime.”
We could lose nurses, doctors and specialist NHS staff for good. Does Humza Yousaf accept that his tax rises could force key workers out of Scotland’s NHS?
It is awfully brave—that is one word for it—for Douglas Ross to talk about the NHS during the week in which junior doctor strikes are happening in NHS England but not in NHS Scotland. Not only that, but the choices that we have made in the budget ensure that there is a real-terms increase to NHS spending in Scotland, when there is a real-terms cut to the NHS in England because of the choices that the Conservatives have made.
Every time that we ensure that we have progressive taxation in Scotland, Douglas Ross stands up and suggests that there will be some kind of mass exodus from Scotland. However, the statistics simply do not bear that out. National Records of Scotland statistics from 2021 show that 56,000 people came to Scotland from the rest of the UK, which is a net in-migration of almost 10,000 people. Why are they coming here? Because in Scotland, they get free university education, free childcare, free school meals and free nursing and personal care. Those are the choices that we are making. Do you know what else they get? We have, in Scotland, the best paid nurses—they are better paid than nurses anywhere else in the UK.
Thank you, First Minister.
No wonder we have not lost a single day to strike action in the NHS in Scotland.
I simply quoted the chairman of the BMA in Scotland, and we get a rant from the First minister. Let us be very clear: the UK Government is providing the highest-ever level of funding to the Scottish Government. Tight budgets are purely the SNP’s fault for wasting taxpayers’ money. [Laughter.] SNP members laugh. It would be funny if it was not so serious—[Interruption.]
Members! Let us hear Mr Ross.
There has been wastage from the SNP Government on ferries that do not float, doomed court cases and ivy league degrees for water executives, before we even start on the bar bill. As a consequence of the SNP’s decisions, shops, pubs and hotels in Scotland will not get the same rates relief as businesses in England and Wales. [Interruption.]
The Deputy First Minister is trying to shout down my question about hospitality—
Mr Ross!
I would be grateful if all members could resist the temptation to contribute when they have not been called to speak. Members on the front benches have a particular responsibility to lead by example. Of course, every member of the Parliament has a role to play in that good behaviour.
I have to say that the smug smirk from Michael Matheson and other members on the front bench is really disappointing.
As a consequence of SNP decisions this week, shops, pubs and hotels in Scotland will not get the same rates relief as businesses in England and Wales.
The Scottish Hospitality Group said that
“many Scottish hospitality businesses will struggle to survive, and customers will see prices increase”
because of that. The Scottish Grocers’ Federation said that
“it beggars belief that the Scottish Government has once again failed to pass on the 75% relief for retail, seen elsewhere in the UK.”
Why is the SNP putting Scottish businesses at a disadvantage?
This is why Douglas Ross has no credibility whatsoever when it comes to economic matters. Not only did he demand previously that we imitate and copy Tory tax cuts, which would have meant that we would have had £1.5 billion less to spend on vital public services, but he demands now that we spend every penny of UK Government consequentials on business relief and tax cuts. If we had done that, we would have seen real-terms cuts to the NHS, education, the police service and the fire service. We simply will not choose to do that.
If we had spent the paltry £10.8 million that the UK Government allocated for health consequentials in its autumn statement, that would have funded five hours of NHS Scotland activity. We make different choices in Scotland. Why? It is because our policies mean that although we ask the top 5 per cent to pay a little more in tax, they get more for it. We will simply not copy Tory tax cuts for the wealthy at the expense of our public services.
Last week, we heard a bold claim from an SNP cabinet secretary that world leaders were lining up to get advice from the SNP Government. It got me wondering who has been calling for the advice. Has Justin Trudeau been on the phone looking for a camper van? Maybe Emmanuel Macron is calling the health secretary to hear how to stream the Celtic match from Morocco. [Interruption.]
Members!
Maybe Joe Biden is asking for advice on how to deal with a disastrous predecessor at the heart of a criminal investigation. I do not know. It could have been any of those things.
Of course, world leaders will not have been asking the nats how to build ferries or how to run an education system. They definitely will not have been asking Humza Yousaf for economic advice, because he is making hard-working Scots pick up the bill for his mistakes. He is putting Scottish businesses at a competitive disadvantage. He is driving key NHS staff away and his decisions mean that 1.5 million Scots will pay more than people south of the border. Is that all that Scotland can expect from high-tax Humza?
Mr Ross, it is very important that members address one another courteously, which means using first names and surnames and avoiding other such names.
The difference between us is that Douglas Ross is standing there advocating for himself, as one of the highest—the top 5 per cent—earners in the country, to get £754 extra in a tax cut from his Conservative colleagues. I am advocating that we make sure that we have a real-terms increase for our NHS. That is the difference between us. I believe in an increase for our NHS, an increase to our education budget, an increase for police officers and an increase for the fire service.
What do we get for our progressive taxation system here in Scotland? We get the best-paid NHS staff anywhere in the UK. [Interruption.]
Mr Ross!
We get the baby box, we get free prescriptions, we get free nursing and personal care and we get the most generous childcare offer in the UK.
Under the Tories, we get a Brexit that we did not vote for, we get a mini-budget that tanked the economy and we get a Westminster cost of living crisis that is harming millions of households across Scotland.
No wonder the Tories have not won an election in Scotland in almost 70 years. Under the leadership of Douglas Ross, that ain’t changing any time soon. [Applause.]
Question 2 is from Anas Sarwar—[Interruption.] Members, I do not want to be shouting into a void, so I would be grateful if you would carry yourselves with courtesy and respect. Many members wish to ask questions today.
National Health Service (Waiting Lists)
I extend my deepest sympathies to the families of those who lost loved ones in the Lockerbie tragedy 35 years ago. My thoughts are with all those in the emergency services and the local community whose bravery and resilience after the event touched us all. Today, we take time to remember everyone who has been affected by the tragedy.
As we break for the Christmas recess, I will take the opportunity to thank all the staff of the Parliament for their hard work throughout the year and to wish the Presiding Officer, all members of the Parliament, all staff and, of course, all the people of Scotland a very merry Christmas.
This year started with Humza Yousaf as health secretary and, throughout the year, things in our NHS have got worse, not better. This year, more than 425,000 patients waited more than four hours at accident and emergency. Almost 55,000 of them were there for more than 12 hours. At the start of the year, 767,938 people were on an NHS waiting list. That now stands at 828,398.
Why is it that everything that the First Minister touches breaks?
Anas Sarwar loses the argument when he goes for the personal attacks, which is what he does regularly and very often. [Interruption.]
Members!
I will give Anas Sarwar some of the statistics. In the budget that we have brought forward—which Anas Sarwar and his Labour colleagues have, of course, opposed—we are giving a record investment of more than £19.5 billion to the NHS. That budget is ensuring that we have the best-paid NHS staff anywhere in the United Kingdom. It is a budget that gives a pay uplift to our care workers.
As for NHS waiting lists, of course there are challenges. The global pandemic has impacted health services in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England, and right across the world. However, we are making progress.
We are not.
I can hear a Labour member shouting, “We are not”, but let me give the statistics. When it comes to the longest waits—those two-year targets—the number of people waiting more than two years for a new out-patient appointment is down 69 per cent. The number of in-patients waiting longer than two years was reduced by 26 per cent.
We will continue to invest in our NHS. Would it not be good if Labour supported a budget that gives record investment to our NHS?
I was quoting Humza Yousaf’s record, and let me quote it again:
“You were transport minister and the trains were never on time, when you were justice secretary the police were stretched to breaking point, and now as health minister we’ve got record high waiting times”.
No, I am not quoting Jackie Baillie—I am sure that even she would struggle to be that harsh—I am quoting Kate Forbes, who sat round the Cabinet table with Humza Yousaf.
On Tuesday, we saw the consequences of Scottish National Party incompetence, waste and failure to grow our economy. Affordable housing funding was cut by £200 million in the middle of a homelessness crisis. Mental health services were cut in real terms in the middle of a mental health crisis, and the fuel insecurity fund was scrapped altogether in the middle of a cost of living crisis. That is the most devastating budget in the history of devolution. Why is it that, on the First Minister’s watch, Scots pay more and get less?
On my watch, because of the actions that the Scottish Government has taken, it is estimated that 90,000 children in Scotland will be lifted out of poverty this year. What will not help to tackle child poverty is the two-child limit that Anas Sarwar now supports retaining. What will not help is a bedroom tax that Keir Starmer and Anas Sarwar now support retaining. On my watch, and on this Government’s watch, we have more young people from areas of higher deprivation going to university than ever before.
Yes, there were challenges in the budget—I am not going to pretend otherwise. There are challenges because we have had more than 13 years of Conservative austerity. I will read what the Welsh Labour finance secretary said.
Briefly, First Minister.
She said:
“this is the toughest financial situation Wales has faced since the start of devolution. Our funding settlement, which comes largely from the UK Government, is not enough to reflect the extreme pressures Wales faces.”
Why is it that Labour in Wales has the backbone to challenge Tory austerity, but Anas Sarwar and Scottish Labour do not?
Do not worry: in 2024, we are getting rid of the Tories. What we need to do is get rid of SNP incompetence at the same time. I am surprised that the First Minister did not talk about his so-called progressive tax rise, which is going to raise £82 million. That would buy a fifth of an SNP ferry that has not even sailed yet. He is simply not a serious politician.
The First Minister is so out of touch—[Interruption.]
Members!
The First Minister is so out of touch, he thinks that, if someone earns almost £29,000, they should pay more tax in Scotland than in the rest of the UK. Those are not the people with the broadest shoulders, but they are being forced to pay the price for his failures in the middle of a cost of living crisis.
The year 2023 will be remembered as the year when the SNP was found out. It has broken the NHS, the justice system, the housing system, public finances and the public’s trust, and it seems to have broken the party in the process. If 2023 was a bad year for the SNP, does Humza Yousaf think that 2024 is going to be any better?
If we are talking about broken, all that Anas Sarwar does is sound like a broken record. Time and time again, he comes here demanding more money for public services, but he opposes every single revenue-raising power and policy that we bring to this Parliament.
Of course, that is the Anas Sarwar of 2023. The Anas Sarwar who was touting for the Labour leadership put out a letter demanding a 50p rate for those who earn £100,000. What happened? [Interruption.] I see Anas Sarwar mouthing, “That was before”—[Interruption.]
Members!
In fact, the one thing that absolutely will not change in 2024 is that Anas Sarwar will say one thing one day and then another thing another day. We know that Anas Sarwar is not a serious politician. He does not think for himself. He waits until he gets the memo from head office. I do not know whether Anas Sarwar has sent his letter to Santa, but if not—
Briefly, First Minister.
—he should ask for a backbone. If he finds that backbone—
Thank you, First Minister.
—maybe he will stand up for Scotland, as opposed to standing up for Keir Starmer.
Budget (Climate Action)
To ask the First Minister how the budget will support climate action. (S6F-02672)
Tackling the climate emergency is key to my Government’s three defining missions, and it lies at the very heart of our draft budget. In our capital resource programmes, we have committed a total of £4.7 billion to climate-positive activities. That includes £2.5 billion of investment in public transport; almost £360 million for warmer, greener homes; a record £220 million for active travel; £158 million for nature and woodland restoration; and more than £60 million to anchor a new offshore wind supply chain.
We have made those choices at the same time as we are being faced with a 10 per cent real-terms cut in our capital budget over the next five years. We have done so not just because investing in climate action is the right thing to do, which of course it is, but because that is where huge economic opportunity for Scotland lies—more jobs, more successful businesses and greater opportunity for the country.
That budget commitment to climate and nature is also a commitment to people. Record funding for active travel creates safer neighbourhoods. Investment in nature means more rural jobs. Funding for warm homes lifts people out of fuel poverty.
Will the First Minister outline how the Government will ensure that the economic benefits of the Government’s record investment in climate will reach the very people who need it the most?
We are committed to a just transition to net zero. That just transition is good for our planet, but, fundamentally, it is good for our people, too. The very heart of the just transition is our people. That transition is already happening. The renewable energy sector has supported more than 42,000 jobs across the Scottish economy, according to the Fraser of Allander Institute’s analysis.
We are also taking action to make sure that those who need the most help get the most help. Free bus travel, on which we will spend almost £430 million next year, is cutting emissions while making the lives of more than two million people easier through access to public transport. Our warmer homes Scotland programme has already cut the bills and carbon emissions for 35,000 low-income households, and up to £700 million of funding will be made available to it over the next contract period. We are also investing a record £220 million in making our streets better and safer for cycling and walking, which are the cheapest and the most sustainable forms of transport.
Mark Ruskell is absolutely right. The heart of our climate action has to be people, and that is exactly why we are investing the billions that we are investing in climate-positive actions.
The Scottish Government is failing to meet climate targets in homes and buildings, transport and land. It still does not have a climate delivery plan or a green industrial strategy, and there are cuts to the energy transition. The just transition fund has been significantly cut, the green jobs fund has gone altogether, and the £67 million announced for offshore supply chain investment is just a reduced and reheated figure from before, at a time when we need major investment in our supply chains to deliver on our green jobs potential. How can the First Minister say that his Government is tackling the climate emergency when it is failing in so many ways?
We have all voted in this Parliament for those world-leading climate change targets, so it is galling that, when we bring proposals forward, they seem to be opposed by the Opposition time and again. When it comes to our climate change plan, we will still publish it within the statutory timelines.
The difficulty for Sarah Boyack is that she demands that we spend more and more money when, all the while, the Conservatives have cut our budget and her leader stood up literally minutes ago opposing any revenue-raising proposals that we bring forward. I am afraid, therefore, that Sarah Boyack has no climate credibility, and she certainly has no economic credibility in that area either.
Creative Scotland (Funding)
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reports that Creative Scotland’s national lottery extended programme fund has received applications equating to double the available budget, leaving some organisations and charities without funding. (S6F-02675)
The Scottish Government is committed to its continued support for the arts. As announced in the budget this week, we will reinstate £6.6 million to Creative Scotland for its national lottery shortfall funding for 2023-24, along with a further £6.6 million for 2024-25.
All Creative Scotland’s funds, whether from Scottish Government grant in aid or United Kingdom national lottery budgets, receive far more eligible applications than can be supported by the available funding. Due to the competitive process for funding, difficult decisions have to be made by Creative Scotland. It is my understanding that, in the event of an unsuccessful application, Creative Scotland will, if an organisation contacts its inquiry service, offer advice on other potential sources of funding that may be available.
I welcome the significant investment that the budget offers to the culture sector, while Labour in Wales has cut its budget by 10 per cent. As we know, culture organisations across Scotland face substantial rising costs. Will the First Minister say more about how the Scottish budget will support the culture sector, and about what support the Scottish Government offers to organisations such as Creative Stirling in my constituency, which lost out on Creative Scotland funding and faces significant challenges to stay afloat in the year ahead?
First and foremost, I encourage Creative Stirling—an organisation that I know, having been introduced to it by Evelyn Tweed—to make contact with Creative Scotland about other potential avenues of funding. I will ask the appropriate cabinet secretary to be in touch with Evelyn Tweed to see whether we can direct Creative Stirling towards any further support.
As announced in the budget statement earlier this week, we are increasing culture funding by £15.8 million next year. That commitment to additional funding comes despite the significant challenges that our budget faces. I will give that some context. In the Welsh budget on Tuesday, funding for support for culture and the arts was cut by 6.5 per cent, and the United Kingdom Government has cut its funding to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport by 30 per cent in real terms between 2022-23 and the coming year.
We will continue to work with our arts and culture sectors to ensure that we invest in them. However, where we can, we are always happy to provide feedback and assistance to those who miss out on funding, in order to see how better we can support them.
Loneliness, Isolation and Self-harm
To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government can promote and assist organisations that tackle loneliness, isolation and self-harm over the festive period. (S6F-02673)
As we all know, Christmas can be an exceptionally difficult time. Money worries, loneliness and grief are just a few of the issues that people are confronted with during the festive season, which is why we have launched new content on our mental wellbeing website, Mind to Mind, to support people who may well be struggling at this time of year. That will be supported by a public campaign over the festive period, online and in community settings, including restaurants and supermarkets.
Since 2021, we have invested £51 million in our communities mental health and wellbeing fund for adults, with 3,300 grants being made to local organisations across Scotland to tackle social isolation. That very much complements the action that is under way to fund 53 community organisations that are delivering befriending services and providing opportunities for people to connect.
Social isolation, loneliness, mental health and inequalities have been made worse by the pandemic and, indeed, by the cost of living crisis. The Government continues to respond to those public health issues.
For most of us, the Christmas and new year period is a time to look forward to, but many people dread it. Grief, loss, depression, domestic abuse and, indeed, loneliness are the unwelcome gifts that the season too often offers.
Sadly, last year, 762 of our fellow Scots completed suicide. This year, more than 100,000 will be eating their Christmas dinner alone. On that point, I commend the work of Marion Scott at the Sunday Post and Age Scotland for their incredible campaigning on the issue of loneliness. I say directly to those watching this who may have feelings of despair this festive season: You are not alone. You can call the Samaritans on 116 123 at any time of the day or night, for free, if you need to talk to someone.
What more support can the Government offer, particularly to charities and volunteers who are always there at the other end of the phone when, far too often, no one else is?
That is a very good question from Jamie Greene. I commend him for often raising such issues at this time of year. As we all know, anybody, in any demographic, can be impacted by mental health challenges, loneliness or isolation. I add my tributes and thanks to Age Scotland, the Sunday Post and others who have done excellent work to highlight the isolation, loneliness and mental health challenges that people face at this time of year.
To answer Jamie Greene’s question directly, that is why it is so important that the Government continues to invest in local community organisations that provide support with social isolation. We do that through our social isolation and loneliness fund, which delivers 53 local projects that support people. Seventy per cent of that fund will be distributed to smaller organisations and 30 per cent to larger organisations. That funding supports a range of activities. Many of us will have seen examples of that activity in our constituencies, such as lunch clubs, social group activities, community development, digital connections, creative arts and befriending services. I pay tribute to every organisation, the length and breadth of the country, for the excellent work that they do, especially at this time of year, to tackle loneliness and isolation.
Spiking
To ask the First Minister whether, and how, the Scottish Government plans to increase awareness of spiking ahead of Christmas and New Year. (S6F-02679)
I thank Pauline McNeill for her important question and recognise that she has regularly raised issues in that regard, particularly around violence against women and girls.
Spiking is an abhorrent act of violence. In the run-up to Christmas, Police Scotland is working with partners to ensure that licensed premises are safe spaces for all, including through introducing a spiking toolkit and by providing advice to licensed premises and relevant partners. We continue to support the best bar none scheme, which delivers bystander intervention training to empower people to address and prevent harassment, and advice on anti-drink-spiking measures.
Police Scotland is also working in partnership with other emergency services, student bodies, universities and colleges and, crucially, our partners in the third sector to raise awareness and provide support for anybody who is affected. We remain absolutely committed to tackling all forms of violence against women, and we encourage anyone who believes that they are a victim to come forward and report it to the police.
Women across the country are being alerted to an increase in spiking. In 2021, worryingly, we started seeing cases of spiking by injection. The most commonly used drugs are gamma hydroxybutyrate—GHB—Rohypnol and ketamine. Spiking constitutes the crime of drugging under the common law in Scotland and can be a statutory crime under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. As the First Minister has identified, it is mainly women who are targeted, but not exclusively. The key characteristics of those drugs are that they are odourless, tasteless and colourless. They can affect the memory, which can make it difficult to report spiking crimes.
As the First Minister has outlined, there are great campaigns relating to those who have been spiked, but I believe that prevention must be central to the strategy. Does the First Minister agree that it is vital to continue to have discussions with the night-time industry, which is already alert to the issue? Spiking is currently not recorded as a category of crime under the Scottish Government’s statistics. Does the First Minister think that it should be? Does he agree with Dawn Fyfe of Glasgow-based Wise Women, who asks that women remain vigilant, especially over the Christmas period?
I agree with all of that, and I am more than happy for the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs to look at the issue of how that crime is recorded and to have that conversation with Police Scotland.
At the heart of Pauline McNeill’s question, she is absolutely right that prevention is far better than cure. It is so important that we recognise that the disproportionate impact of spiking is, I am afraid, on women. Therefore, I am absolutely committed to the work that we are doing to address violence against women and girls and the preventative work that we are doing with boys and men not just to change their behaviour but to call out unacceptable behaviours.
I am more than happy to ensure that we work closely with Pauline McNeill on these issues, and I agree with her whole-heartedly that we should do more to ensure that there is greater awareness of spiking, particularly at this time of year.
The First Minister says that he takes spiking seriously. His round-table meeting on spiking was due to take place in October—crucially, ahead of this year’s festive party season—but, to the dismay of campaigners and victims, it was cancelled. While United Kingdom ministers are taking action to protect victims, complacent Scottish National Party ministers are doing precisely nothing. Can the First Minister tell spiking victims and campaigners when the round table will next meet?
I will not be the only one who is extremely disappointed by the tone of Russell Findlay’s question. There should be genuine understanding that, for all our political differences—and I have many political differences with Russell Findlay—he should not suggest that anybody in the chamber does not take spiking seriously. We all take spiking seriously. That is why we have taken a number of actions, worked with a number of partners and supported a number of initiatives in that regard.
We will continue to work with anybody—not just Conservative members—on the issue and with the UK Government on any criminal offence that it looks to introduce. We do not believe that there is necessarily a need to create a separate criminal offence of spiking, because, as Pauline McNeill said, it is already covered through statutory offences. However, I am more than happy for the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs to write to Russell Findlay in detail about the actions that we are taking to tackle spiking in Scotland.
We move to constituency and general supplementary questions.
Best Start Foods
Best start foods provides food support to families with young children under three. It is more generous and has a higher uptake than its equivalent scheme in England. However, the Scottish Government recently reported that some families have unused credits of more than £600 on their account or have not activated their best start foods card.
Does the First Minister agree that, with the scheme opening to an additional 20,000 people in 2024, it is vital that that support is fully used? Will he meet me and the Scottish Pantry Network to discuss a potential pilot project that could see food pantries, including those in my constituency, become strategic partners, to support uptake and ensure that healthy food is accessible and affordable to low-income families?
The Scottish Government would be more than happy to meet Bob Doris and the Scottish Pantry Network, because his points are incredibly important. I am very pleased that we are expanding eligibility for best start foods in February so that a further 20,000 people will benefit. I was pleased to make that announcement earlier this year.
Although estimated take-up for 2022-23 is 92 per cent, some people have not activated or have stopped using their best start foods card. Social Security Scotland is contacting those people to remind them that the money is theirs and to encourage them to use it.
The card can be used at food pantries. In addition to funding being provided to the Scottish Pantry Network by the Scottish Government, Social Security Scotland works closely with the network, offering drop-in services and appointments to support people to apply for benefits. The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice would be more than interested in hearing about what the network could do to promote best start foods.
Rail Fares
The First Minister’s gift to hard-pressed rail passengers was the announcement of a near 9 per cent increase in fares, which is way above the current level of inflation. At a time when we should be doing all that we can to encourage more people to use the train, why is the First Minister doing the opposite?
This is the Government that has abolished and scrapped peak rail fares through our current pilot. This is the Government that froze fares for a number of years.
We again get to the contradiction at the heart of all Conservative contributions, which is that they demand that we spend more money—in this case, on rail services—but oppose every single revenue-raising option. In fact, they go further: they demand tax cuts for the wealthiest in the country. If we had listened to Graham Simpson, Douglas Ross and Liz Smith, we would have £1.5 billion less revenue to spend. Thank goodness we do not listen to the Conservative Party.
New Year’s Day (Day Off for Retail Staff)
This Parliament passed the Christmas Day and New Year’s Day Trading (Scotland) Act 2007, in which provision was made—this was subject, of course, to consultation—for the Scottish ministers to stop large stores trading on new year’s day. The First Minister knows, as we all do, that retail staff work very hard, especially at this time of year, when they face longer hours and, indeed, more demanding customers. They deserve a break. The Scottish National Party says that it believes in fair work, yet it has rejected calls from the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers to fully implement the bill. Why is the First Minister opposed to giving staff in large stores the day off on new year’s day?
We are not. That is a mischaracterisation of our position. We believe in fair work. We are proud of the work that our party has done on fair work principles, which we expect everybody—including the Government—to abide by.
I will examine what more we can do in relation to the 2007 act. I am more than happy to work with USDAW, for which we have the utmost respect, and retail staff. It is important that Jackie Baillie raises the point that, at this time of year in particular, our retail staff do an incredible job, often in very difficult circumstances. I will see what more we can do in relation to the 2007 act, because I am proud that we are the party of fair work principles.
Domestic Abuse Support (Festive Season)
Although Christmas is a time of peace and joy for many, we know that there is often a spike in cases of domestic abuse over the festive season. What engagement has the Scottish Government had with agencies to ensure that people are supported to report instances of domestic abuse this Christmas?
Rona Mackay is absolutely right to raise the issue. Ensuring that we tackle domestic abuse is a shared endeavour of all of us in Parliament. Domestic abuse is abhorrent, and I want people to know that support is available to them, no matter what time of year it is. I encourage anyone who experiences domestic abuse to report it to the police and to reach out to services for advice and support as soon as they can do so safely.
Agencies and service providers will be raising awareness of the availability of support throughout the festive period. People can also call the Scottish Government-funded domestic abuse helpline on 0800 027 1234.
Lifeline Ferry Service Cover (Scrabster to Stromness)
The MV Hamnavoe is due to undergo planned maintenance next month. As a former transport minister, the First Minister will know that, in the past, a Ropax vessel and, more recently, a freight vessel provided cover on the Stromness to Scrabster route over that two-week refit period. This year, there will be no vessel at all on the route. What does the First Minister think that that says about the Government’s commitment to lifeline ferry services? Can he offer a guarantee to my constituents that there will be no repeat of that abandonment in years to come?
We take seriously our obligations to our island communities. The budget is undoubtedly a demonstration of that. I am more than happy to have a discussion with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition and the Minister for Transport and for them to write to Liam McArthur about what options there are around the Stromness to Scrabster route, which I know is an incredibly important lifeline route. We will put in place any mitigations that can feasibly be put in place when the Hamnavoe goes for its two-week refit.
Renewable Energy (Jobs)
I welcome the significant investment of £66.9 million in the offshore wind supply chain that the Scottish Government announced as part of this week’s budget. In the light of the recent Fraser of Allander Institute report on jobs in renewable energy, will the First Minister outline his Government’s commitment to growing the green sector in Scotland as part of our journey to net zero?
I warmly welcome the Fraser of Allander Institute’s study, which shows that the renewable energy sector supported more than 42,000 jobs across the Scottish economy and generated more than £10.1 billion of output in 2021. The report provides further evidence that Scotland is leading the way in delivering a green jobs revolution and unlocking the huge potential that our energy transition presents.
As I mentioned in response, I think, to Mark Ruskell, it is worth again putting on record the fact that the just transition to net zero is not just a moral imperative—of course, it absolutely is—but a huge economic opportunity for Scotland and one that we are absolutely ready to capitalise on. That is why the budget was so important in providing increased investment to ensure that we have supply chains anchored here in Scotland.
AMTE Power
It was reported yesterday that the battery manufacturer AMTE Power has entered administration and that plans for a £190 million mega factory in Dundee that could create 215 jobs on site and 800 more in the supply chain have been scrapped. That is a huge blow to our economy and to our ambitions for a just transition to net zero. What can the First Minister do to provide assurance to current employees? How can we ensure that we get manufacturing facilities for the just transition that we need in the north-east?
I was very concerned to learn recently that AMTE Power has gone into administration. This will be a very difficult time for company staff and their families, particularly at this time of year. The people who are affected by that decision are our immediate priority. Through our initiative for responding to redundancy situations, partnership action for continuing employment—PACE—the Scottish Government will do everything in its power to help those who have been affected.
I understand that the appointed administrator, FRP Advisory, will continue to look for a positive outcome for the Thurso operation in particular. That region has a track record in innovative battery research, development and manufacturing, spanning 20 years, and every step will be taken to build on the existing capabilities and the associated supply chain.
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