Chamber and committees

It is with great pleasure that I rise to move the motions, in my name, that Kate Forbes be appointed as a Scottish minister and that Ivan McKee be appointed as a junior Scottish minister. In doing so, let me set out the approach that my ministerial team will take.

When I accepted the Parliament’s nomination for First Minister, I made it clear that I would be a First Minister for all of Scotland. Governments across the world are facing substantial challenges and, given those challenges, I believe that, when possible, the best approach is to build consensus in our Parliament.

In recent days, I have spoken of the political ground that my party and my Government will occupy, which is firmly in the mainstream, moderate, left-of-centre tradition. I believe that that is where most people in Scotland want us to be and that that therefore offers a sound starting point for that consensus building. I will work with colleagues across the Parliament to secure agreement when we can on the issues that matter to the people of our country.

For our colleagues in the Scottish Green Party, with whom we have shared a partnership Government in recent years, I hope that we will be able to find common ground, albeit without a formal agreement in place. In appointing my ministerial team, I have made clear to all my ministers the need to do everything in our power to help to bring about as much agreement as possible in the Parliament. Of course, there will be occasions when it is not possible to build consensus, or when ideas come forward from parties that have alternative but equally legitimate policy agendas but we simply cannot reach points of agreement. In both instances, we will listen and we will consider. If it is not possible to reach agreement—of course, in any vibrant democracy, argument is essential—I reiterate, for my part, that our engagement with members will be undertaken with courtesy and respect.

My ministerial team will respect different opinions and will move forward in the manner that I believe the people who sent us here want—engaging constructively with other parties and listening carefully to their ideas. It is, of course, the role of Opposition parties to oppose; equally, I will never shy away from stating the Government’s record and achievements through the steps that we have taken. In our mission to eradicate child poverty, we are lifting an estimated 100,000 children out of poverty. Since 2007, when this Government came to office, gross domestic product per head has grown more quickly in Scotland than it has in the United Kingdom as a whole. Productivity has also grown faster. Through measures such as removing peak rail fares and extending free bus travel to under-22s, we are actively helping with the cost of living as it affects individuals in our society.

In our most precious public service—the national health service—we have the best-performing core accident and emergency units in the United Kingdom. Prescriptions are free, while the cost continues to rise south of the border. Attainment is at a record high, and record numbers of students from deprived backgrounds are going to university. Significant progress has also been made in tackling the climate emergency, but we know that more needs to be done on climate change and other policy areas.

With my new ministerial team, we will work for every hour of every day to tackle the challenges head on and to build a better Scotland.

Before I turn to today’s appointments, I pay tribute to the ministers who are leaving the Government today. Joe FitzPatrick has been a hard-working Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning, leading on the Scottish Government’s relationship with our partners in local government and driving forward our ambition to improve the efficiency of the planning system.

Emma Roddick has served well as Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees. She has worked hard to build a better Scotland for minority groups and refugees.

George Adam has been a tireless Minister for Parliamentary Business. His role of liaising with other parties has always been performed with good humour and professionalism, and he has been integral to the structuring of constructive relationships between the Scottish National Party and the Green Party in the course of our partnership agreement.

I thank each of those ministers for their service to the Scottish Government.

I also pay tribute to the departing First Minister, who left office on Tuesday. I look forward to Humza Yousaf’s wise counsel from the back benches, as well as his enthusiastic applause for all that I will say. All those departing the Government leave with my sincere thanks and, I am sure, the best wishes of the whole parliamentary chamber.

The team that I have assembled represents the most talented and capable public servants that the Scottish National Party Government wishes to offer to the people of Scotland and to this Parliament.

First, I am delighted that Kate Forbes has accepted the role of Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for the Economy and for the Gaelic language and Scotland’s languages. Kate Forbes has made a significant contribution to this parliamentary chamber, and her daughter appears to be making a significant contribution from the public gallery, as well. [Laughter.]

Kate Forbes is held in extremely high regard in Scotland’s business community and has a strong track record of championing issues that relate to the success of the Scottish economy. Indeed, this morning, she has been engaged in detailed discussions with the business community on the priorities that the Government will take forward.

As Scotland continues to be buffeted by the effects of Westminster austerity and Brexit, it is more important than ever that we use every lever at our disposal to harness Scotland’s economic strengths. Kate Forbes will play a key role in driving forward that agenda. In doing so, she will ensure that we deliver growth for a purpose. It must be growth that is sustainable, that benefits everyone and that improves our public services.

Kate Forbes will take on responsibility for Scotland’s languages, including one of Scotland’s most cherished assets—the Gaelic language. I look forward to demonstrating our support for the Gaelic language when I attend the parliamentary reception this evening to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the foundation of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the Gaelic college in Skye, in the Deputy First Minister’s constituency.

I am pleased that Ivan McKee returns to the Government. With his significant professional and political experience, he will make a formidable Minister for Public Finance, in a role that requires forensic attention to detail.

Alongside Kate Forbes’s and Ivan McKee’s appointments, there are some other changes in the ministerial team. Kaukab Stewart becomes Minister for Equalities, an issue on which she has campaigned her entire adult life.

Jamie Hepburn becomes the new Minister for Parliamentary Business. I know that he has warm relationships with MSPs from across the political spectrum. Combined with his political abilities, that means that there is no one better suited to that key role—a role that is even more important with a minority Government—and he will report directly to me, in recognition of the significance of parliamentary relationships.

Angus Robertson will take forward our work across culture, external affairs and the constitution.

Christina McKelvie, in her role as Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy, will now report directly to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, ensuring the closest possible working with our other public health priorities.

Tom Arthur, who has been a highly effective public finance minister, will become the new Minister for Employment and Investment.

I pay particular tribute to the former Deputy First Minister, my friend Shona Robison. In stepping back as Deputy First Minister as I form a Government, Shona Robison has displayed the typical selflessness and team spirit that she has demonstrated throughout her many years in government. Nobody, except those who have served as finance secretary, understands the extraordinary effort that is required to steer a budget through the Parliament, and I am therefore delighted that Shona Robison has accepted my invitation to continue as finance secretary, which is a role that she has accomplished with tremendous success.

A number of ministers remain in post. They are the best people for their roles, and they will work closely with their new colleagues.

I finish by pledging to the people of Scotland what they can expect from my ministerial team. The aim of my Government will be to help people and their families to get on in life, to live happier and healthier lives, to feel secure and, with that security, to feel a sense of possibility and opportunity. That ambition should be for not just a minority or even a majority of people but for everyone, which is why the goal of eradicating child poverty is so close to my heart and will be central to the direction of my Government.

We promise to do everything that we can to help Scotland’s business community not just to survive these difficult times but to thrive.

On constitutional change, everyone in the chamber should remember that there is a majority in this Parliament for independence. That is the result of a democratic choice that was made by the people of Scotland. I know that some Opposition members might not like that choice, but, frankly, it is odd that some so often disregard that choice. More than that, it is disrespectful to the people who put us here to disregard that choice. Perhaps this new chapter in our democracy will bring some reflection on that important point.

Those of us who believe in independence do so because we believe that, with the powers of a normal independent country, we can collectively, as a nation, build a wealthier and fairer country. Therefore, we will continue to make the case—in line with the mandate that we have received—for the powers that we need to make the most of the talents of all our people.

We will do everything that we can within our current powers. We will engage with and listen to Scotland’s people, our civic organisations and our businesses, and we will work with members of the Scottish Parliament across the chamber to deliver a better Scotland, to drive sustainable economic growth, to deliver better public services and to eradicate once and for all the curse of child poverty.

For me, all those things are interlinked. Public services can be properly funded only when we have a strong economy, and the economy can be strong only when every citizen is reaching their full potential. A fairer economy is the bedrock of a healthier and happier population. I and my ministerial team will focus on all those efforts in the service of the people of Scotland.

I move,

That the Parliament agrees that Kate Forbes be appointed as a Scottish Minister.

That the Parliament agrees that Ivan McKee be appointed as a junior Scottish Minister.

I will not respond to all the points that have been made in the chamber, but I will respond to a number of them, because they are serious and important points that have been made by all colleagues. I embark on my term as First Minister with a genuine desire for this institution to work more collaboratively than it currently does. I accept—and have accepted publicly—that, today, our politics are polarised and that there has to be effective leadership to improve that situation. That is very much at the heart of some of the comments that Meghan Gallacher made in her speech. I have pledged to give that leadership on behalf of the Scottish Government and to contribute to ensuring that we can arrive at agreements in our Parliament that will improve the lives of people in Scotland and ensure that they can have more confidence about their future in this country, given the enormous pressures and challenges with which people wrestle at the moment.

Martin Whitfield made a number of remarks about the record of the Government. In the speech that I gave in this place when I stood down as Deputy First Minister, I said that I would give some advice to the Opposition, which was that I did not think that it was a particularly strong narrative to say to people that everything in Scotland today is awful. I say so genuinely, because I went through a period in the run-up to the 2003 election, when I was leader of the SNP, of making the argument that everything was absolutely awful, and it did not do us any good electorally. I offer that friendly advice from a sage election winner to Mr Whitfield, with the generosity of spirit for which I will be renowned in the years to come.

On Willie Rennie’s contribution, I welcome the willingness of the Liberal Democrats to enable the appointments to be made today. I recognise the rationale and motivation for doing that—to create some space for us as a Parliament to progress from where we are today to finding areas of agreement and common purpose.

Mr Rennie encouraged me to be a bit more explicit in answering questions. Actually, I was trying to do that at First Minister’s question time today. I may have startled a few people with some of my answers about some of the challenges that we face. Over lunch time, I conceded to the Presiding Officer that those answers were perhaps a bit on the lengthy side of things. I see that the Deputy Presiding Officer is gesticulating to me about the length of the answers. I will do my best.

Mr Rennie makes a substantive point about what can be achieved when there is substantial engagement between members of Parliament. Natalie Don, the Minister for Children, Young People and the Promise, has worked hard with colleagues across the chamber to get the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill into a stronger position today than it was when the Government introduced it. I acknowledge that some of that strengthening has been because of the Opposition’s contribution to the debate and the Government making a response that it originally was not prepared to offer. Willie Rennie’s point about how we can find common ground is therefore an important one.

Without disclosing the contents of a private conversation, I advise members that, some months ago, I said to Mr Rennie in the corridor that I had listened to him on the radio and found myself thinking, “He does make a fair point about the flooding issue in Cupar.” Let me take Mr Rennie’s issue away and see what I can do about it, because I did think that he made a fair point. However, if Mr Rennie believes that Jamie Hepburn has been liberated from a heavy burden, I am afraid to tell him that he is wrong on that one—there is a straight answer to that question—because I fear for the burdens that Mr Hepburn will have to carry in the period going forward.

Lastly, I come to Ross Greer’s contribution. He set out what is, understandably, a deeply personal perspective for him, which is shared by his colleagues. I understand that. I think that Ross Greer and his colleagues in the Green Party know that I respect the issues, considerations and perspectives that they have. What I was trying to say to Patrick Harvie in my response to his question at First Minister’s question time earlier is that the country that I lead today has a modern, diverse and dynamic society. I recognise that, as do all the members of my Government. We want to keep it that way, so that is what we are committed to doing. We want to ensure that the values of diversity that have been at the heart of this Parliament’s journey over so many years are protected and enhanced as our country moves forward together.

When I say to the country—as I did on Tuesday, standing here—that I offer myself as the First Minister for everybody in Scotland, I cannot convey adequately or strongly enough that I mean absolutely everybody. I want each and every person in our society to feel that they are at home and at peace. I come to those conclusions from some of the motivations that Mr Greer has talked about—from a very deep Christian faith. I believe that nothing can separate us from the love of God. That is the foundation of who I am. Nothing can separate us from the love of God; we are equal in the eyes of God, every one of us.

I hope that those comments, which are more forthright ones about faith than I have ever uttered in my 45 years in politics, will perhaps illustrate to Parliament the magnitude of the seriousness with which I take the issues that Mr Greer put to me and also the seriousness with which I embark on my office as First Minister. I want to ensure that the Government that I lead, and the participation of all my colleagues in it, is undertaken in a fashion that ensures that everybody in Scotland feels that their Government is with them, protecting them, assuring them and making them feel safe, and will always be on their side. That is what I offer the people of Scotland when I say that I will be the First Minister for everybody in our country.

I have nothing really to add to what I have said to Douglas Ross about the financial position that we face. The financial position is acutely challenging and difficult, and it is different from the position that we faced in 2021 and back in 2016. There has been a rampant increase in inflation on the watch of the Conservative Government. [Interruption.]

Certainly, what will not change is the script that we get from Douglas Ross.

Let us talk about some of the achievements that have been made in education according to the most recent data. Record levels of literacy and numeracy attainment at primary school, and improvements at secondary school, were recorded in the curriculum for excellence data that was published on 12 December. There is a record low attainment gap between the proportion of primary pupils from the most and least deprived areas achieving the expected levels in literacy, and there were reductions at secondary level. Again, that is from the achievement of curriculum for excellence levels data from 12 December.

In the summer of 2023, we had the highest-ever number of passes at national 5—a tremendous achievement by the children and young people of Scotland—and a record number of vocational and technical qualifications were achieved. In 2023, higher and advanced higher pass rates were higher than those achieved in 2019.

I will be straight with the public of Scotland. I will tell them the way it is. I will be clear that we are under enormous financial pressure. My Government will have to come to the Parliament with information about the challenges that we face in the public finances, and we will do that in due course. I have been the First Minister for only 48 hours—not even 48 hours—but we will come to the Parliament to be straight about the challenges that we face. I will also be straight with the people of Scotland about the successes that this Government has delivered and of which we are very proud.

—and I am right here to deliver it. [Interruption.] They are laughing, because they are delighted that I am here to do it. That is why they are laughing—they are over the moon that I am here. They sent me here—they were all behind it.

It is a matter of history and of record that the Deputy First Minister was responsible for introducing progressive taxes in Scotland. Kate Forbes took those budget decisions and sought the agreement of the Cabinet, and the measures were then put to Parliament. I welcome the fact that our colleagues in the Green Party supported the measures that the Government brought forward.

It is pretty clear that Kate Forbes has delivered progressive taxation. By delivering the approach to progressive taxation, she has also delivered measures such as the Scottish child payment, which is taking 100,000 children out of poverty today. To me, that is something to be warmly welcomed across our country, which supports the mission of my Government to eradicate child poverty.

I take very seriously the challenge that Mr Harvie puts to me, because I want people in this country to be reassured by my leadership. When I say that I want to be the First Minister for everyone in Scotland, I deeply mean that. I want to lead a modern, dynamic and diverse Scotland—a place for everybody, where everybody feels at home, at peace, that they have a place, and that their place in our society is protected by my leadership of this country.

The Scottish Government is committed to implementation of the report “Pathways: A New Approach for Women in Entrepreneurship”, which looks at how support for women in entrepreneurship can best be delivered and addresses the barriers that they continue to face. We have allocated £1.5 million this year to support that work, building on the £1.3 million that was invested through the pre-start fund last year.

We have committed more than £38 million for the development of new and expanded facilities at eight residential rehab projects across the country. Investment in those capacity projects alone will provide an increase of at least 140 beds by 2025-26, boosting the rehab capacity in Scotland from 425 to 565, which is an increase of more than 30 per cent. Three of those projects—in Edinburgh, Dundee and Ayrshire—are fully completed and operational.

Alongside that direct funding, we are confident that our significant wider investment in the sector will contribute to boosted bed numbers and we expect to meet our target of a 50 per cent increase in residential rehab capacity to at least 650 by 2026. We intend to commission a formal audit of residential rehab bed capacity in 2025 to provide an authoritative account of our progress towards that target.

I am grateful to Paul Sweeney for his kind remarks and I very much welcome the points that he has put to me. A referral pathway should be in place at this moment. The scenario that Mr Sweeney has put to me is that, once the safer consumption room proposition is implemented, a pathway should be available. I take very seriously the point that he makes—that there should be a pathway—because we can help people on the road to recovery only if that pathway is available as swiftly as Mr Sweeney has put it to me today. That is my expectation; however, as I become closer to many of the issues, I will have in mind the one that Mr Sweeney has raised with me.

Obviously, an on-going public inquiry is looking at the issues that are material to Audrey Nicoll’s question. In observing the evidence, I am struck by how overwhelming it looks that her point is a fair one. We have to allow that public inquiry to take its course. While that is happening, there is action that we can take to remedy miscarriages of justice. That is, of course, part of the legislative programme of the Government, and the Government will bring those proposals to Parliament.