Chamber and committees

The infrastructure investment pipeline sets out a number of commitments, one of which is the next phase of the learning estate investment programme, or LEIP. That programme has involved a very successful funding model of shared costs between the Scottish Government and local government, and it has delivered, with the number of schools in a good condition going from 62 per cent to 93 per cent. A lot of progress has been made.

It is clear, however, that some schools still require attention. I say to Willie Rennie that we are keen to think about the role of special schools in the new phase of LEIP, and we will continue to work with local authorities, including Fife Council. I am sure that he will be kept apprised of that work, and that education ministers will be happy to visit some of the schools in his patch.

I hoped that Brian Whittle might have welcomed the summer of sport—I know that that is an area of interest for him and that he has asked questions about it previously—but I am sure that he will do so in due course.

On the issue that Brian Whittle raised, we have safeguarded £90 million of funding for employability services, but we will go further than that through the work that we will do with colleges. We were really impressed with the proposals that Colleges Scotland set out on how to support people back into work. That includes people with additional needs, who will find colleges a less threatening environment in which to take part in some employability and skills programmes. I am excited to see how those programmes develop with the college sector and how they will help us to support people back into employment.

We are putting more money into housing. Over the spending review period, there will be investment of £4.9 billion, £4.1 billion of which will be public investment that will lever in at least a further £800 million of private sector investment in, for example, mid-market rent properties and build to rent schemes. That will all contribute to the delivery of affordable homes, so I hope that John Mason will welcome that.

That is one of the biggest capital investments across our capital funding programme. Given that our capital funding will, unfortunately, be reduced after this year, due to the UK Government’s spending review, the marshalling of the capital resources that are available to us to prioritise affordable housing is quite a commitment.

As I said in my statement, I was very pleased to be able to increase funding for international development. That says a lot about this Government’s values, which are in tune with the values of the Scottish people. I find it quite difficult to understand the hostility of Tory members to increasing investment in international development, because such investment in ensuring sustainable communities, particularly in third world countries, contributes to making the world safer. Helping those communities to help themselves represents a good investment, and it is one that we are proud to make.

I acknowledge Kenneth Gibson’s welcome for the additional college funding. On his substantive question, the Scottish Government is committed to Ardrossan being the mainland harbour for CalMac ferry services to Arran. The progress on the negotiations between Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and Peel Ports Group, which the Cabinet Secretary for Transport set out last week, is welcome, and I note that both parties are committed to confirming details of the potential purchase as quickly as possible. Our capital spending review makes provision to progress the potential port purchase and improvements. I am sure that Kenneth Gibson will welcome that, too.

There will be substantial investment in our rural communities. That includes continuing the work to support our agricultural sector and also investment for peat restoration and forestry. Those are important investments, not just for local economies and jobs but for our climate ambitions. In addition, some ambitious agreements are being worked on with our island communities, such as the accelerator model for Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles, which has the potential to lever in hundreds of millions of pounds of investment. Again, I am happy to keep the Parliament updated on those developments.

I thank Jamie Greene for his very positive and constructive engagement on behalf of the Liberal Democrats and for welcoming many of the responses to asks that feature in the budget. As he has recognised, my statement set out substantial support for business. I also recognise the importance of the independent Gill review of valuation methods for hospitality businesses, which the hospitality sector is very keen on. That work will continue at pace.

Of course I agree to continue to work with Mr Greene and others. As I said, we lack information on the UK Government’s intentions; it has been opaque about whether it will go further. We found out about the possible changes through the press rather than through any communication from the UK Government, which is disappointing. I reiterate the point that, if further consequentials should flow from a U-turn by the UK Government on the position in England, we would want to support the hospitality sector further. I have written to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to ask for an urgent meeting to discuss the issue. My colleagues in Wales and Northern Ireland are also keen to do so.

First, the investment of more than £2.3 billion in social care delivers our commitment to increase funding by 25 per cent. In 2026-27, that commitment will be exceeded by more than £500 million, supporting an uplift to adult social care pay as well as improvements to wider terms and conditions for workers. That is part of a package for local government of nearly £15.7 billion, with freedom for authorities to set their council tax rates as they see fit. In addition to that, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care will be meeting local government representatives to discuss what further steps can be taken to address delayed discharge, particularly in relation to complex care needs.

All that work is going on, but the money that I have just talked about can be put in place only if members support the budget. The question for Jackie Baillie is: why does she find it so difficult to press her button to support the £2.3 billion of investment in social care? That is something that she will have to explain.

I say to Miles Briggs that this Government has invested in our schools, in our teachers and in local government so that they can provide the education resources that are required. We have invested in the pupil equity fund, which enables headteachers to use some of the discrete purchasing options that they have. If they wish to use those resources to support young people who would otherwise struggle to have one of those devices, those resources can, of course, be used for that.

It is a bit rich for Miles Briggs to come here and talk about any of those things because his £1 billion cut to public services would not only prevent the delivery of anything additional in our schools; it would impact on school budgets and there would be swingeing cuts to local government and the NHS. Miles Briggs knows that full well.

Gillian Mackay’s first point was about the childcare provisions that she asked for, which we are not able to meet at this time due to cost implications. As I said to Ross Greer in some of those discussions, we need a wider review of the delivery models for childcare to ensure that there is more flexibility and that we can extract better value from the investments that are being made. However, that is a longer-term issue that this Parliament will have to look at.

I am glad that Gillian Mackay welcomes the wraparound provision.

The roll-out of the breakfast clubs will start this year with £15 million of investment and it will tick up next year, in 2027-28, to ensure that every primary school child and children in special schools are able to get that breakfast offer on a universal basis. I am happy to provide further details to Gillian Mackay.