Chamber and committees

I will explore some of the points that Mr Cole-Hamilton put to me about the position on mental health, health expenditure and local government, because that is where we get into dilemmas and into the choices that Parliament must make. In the letter that I received from local government directors of finance, who asked for an uplift of £1 billion for local government—Mr Cole-Hamilton reinforced that figure—they asked for all consequentials from the UK Government to be allocated to local government. That would mean that I could not allocate those consequentials to health, but Mr Cole-Hamilton just made a plea to me to support mental health expenditure and health expenditure.

I have chosen to increase taxation to enable me to invest an extra £1 billion in the national health service, which will ensure that the very priorities that Mr Cole-Hamilton raised with me can be taken forward. I assure him—this comes out of my dialogue with my colleagues in the Scottish Green Party—of the sustained investment that the Government is making in renewable energy, energy efficiency and home insulation. Those programmes are for the long term and must be supported by Government funding. We have made our choices and supported such programmes, which we expect to have an impact on the lives of people in Scotland as a consequence.

The Government is focused on ensuring that we take forward the construction of ferry vessels to meet the needs of island communities. We are taking decisions that are consistent with the approach that is necessary for public procurement projects. We are committed to the investment, and I am glad that, at least in some measure, Mr Sweeney was able to welcome it.

That is the dilemma with which we have to wrestle. I aired that matter in a conversation with COSLA leaders a couple of weeks ago, and I returned to it in a conversation with the COSLA leadership last night. There is very close parliamentary interest in the implementation of a number of key programmes and policy commitments, but, equally, there will be a local desire to have some degree of flexibility about how those priorities are taken forward. We have to create a climate of assurance as we address issues of flexibility, which local authorities are seeking. We have to strike that balance in those discussions and, along with the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government, I will take those forward as we advance such issues with local government.

The health secretary would be very happy to meet palliative care organisations to address those questions. Obviously, we are giving a very significant generic increase to the health and care budget in Scotland. There will be opportunities for organisations to interact with the health system with regard to how the matter can be taken forward, and I am sure that the issues that Mr Doris raises on behalf of that sector, which plays an invaluable role in the quality of life of our citizens, can be properly and fully considered as part of the budget implementation.

As Mr Kerr will know, the Government looks at its entire capital programme on an on-going basis. We look at the phasing of, and the delivery arrangements for, projects in order to allocate resources accordingly. I thought that, on behalf of the public, Mr Kerr would have said that they expect us to complete the vessels and ensure that the needs of island communities are met, which is precisely what the Government is doing.

We have agreed to put £15 million into the fair fares review, which will specifically focus on taking forward an exercise to reduce peak rail fares. It will operate over a six-month period in the course of the next financial year, and the Government will consider carefully the impact of that measure and the long-term sustainability of such a proposition. If it is successful, the Government will wish to continue it for a longer period.

I am afraid that there is going to have to be an awful lot of basic arithmetic here. I know that Liz Smith is a great fan of basic arithmetic, because she was always telling me that when I was education secretary. I say to her that Mr Kerr needs some assistance with basic arithmetic. He is asking me to increase the budget for Skills Development Scotland at the same time as members on his party’s front bench are telling me not to increase public expenditure as a whole. Just to reassure Mr Kerr—

I have just addressed that point, Mr Kerr. No amount of waving papers at me, shouting and all the rest of it will change that.

I will just repeat it all, although I am being encouraged to be brief. The Government is absolutely committed to the target of 25,000 apprenticeship places. Indeed, before the pandemic, the Government was on the verge of achieving its target of 30,000 modern apprenticeship places. There is capacity in the modern apprenticeships programme at this stage, and we are confident that those targets can be achieved.

I also point out to Mr Kerr that, as part of the budget—he did not welcome this bit—more resources have been allocated to universities and colleges, which obviously contribute to the skills opportunities and capacities of our country.

As Mr Ewing knows, significant progress has been made on dualling the A9. In my constituency, relatively recently, the section between Luncarty and Pass of Birnam was opened and it is making a significant impact. I also recognise the tragedy of the death toll on the A9, which, as a consequence of many road safety measures that have been taken for a considerable time, has been avoided for many years. However, the issue has reached an intense level in the past 12 months, which causes enormous distress to the individuals affected. I welcome the work, which Mr Ewing will be aware of, that the Minister for Transport is taking forward to set out measures to improve road safety on the A9. That has a constant part of her attention.

I reassure Mr Ewing that resources are available in the budget to continue the programme of dualling the A9. Ministers are reviewing the capital programme to ensure that we can support the financial commitments in the light of the commercial pressures that are prevalent in capital programmes because of the increase in input prices.

The principal thing to which I can refer Audrey Nicoll is the decision that I have taken on freezing the business rate poundage, which is designed to help those who are in the sectors to which she refers, operating in town centres. Obviously, the Government takes forward other work through our regeneration activity, which is designed to assist the development of town centres. The dialogue will continue around the country to support communities that are affected by the difficulties and challenges that are faced.