The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 629 contributions
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 23 January 2025
Alexander Stewart
Okay. Thank you, convener.
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 23 January 2025
Alexander Stewart
I am sure; that is fine.
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 23 January 2025
Alexander Stewart
I would like clarity on some of the figures. When you gave evidence to the Scottish Affairs Committee, you said that the content spend in Scotland was £300 million last year. Looking at the accounts, I can identify £239 million of that, which includes £105 million on Scottish qualifying network television. Screen Scotland commissioned Oliver & Ohlbaum Associates to carry out research and its report showed that much of that Scottish qualifying output comes from London-based producers and that it has limited economic impact here in Scotland. What is the spend? Is it £300 million or £239 million? What does the £105 million figure cover?
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 23 January 2025
Alexander Stewart
Mr Kerneis, do you have any views?
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 21 January 2025
Alexander Stewart
Cabinet secretary, we are aware of the Scottish local authorities remuneration committee’s recommendations, and there have been some discussions and updates. The last time that the committee was given an indication of the situation it was told that the Scottish Government had accepted the pay and boundary changes and that it was planning to lay regulations early this year to bring those changes into effect. It would be useful to have an update to confirm the position on that and the timing.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 21 January 2025
Alexander Stewart
On the financial stability of local government, we have talked in the past about where we are and how confident the Scottish Government is that it has the data that it requires to assess the financial stability of local authorities. We have also talked in the past about the debt and the reserve levels of local authorities.
Given the pessimistic outlook from the Local Government Information Unit’s recent survey, which gave us concern, what are the Scottish Government’s views on local government when it comes to the debt and reserves that specific councils have and their financial sustainability? It is a major issue for local authorities that what they can deal with depends on what they have in their reserves. Some have large reserves and some have very little, but all councils seem to have debt.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 21 January 2025
Alexander Stewart
Good morning, minister. Looking at the targets and the funding strategies that we have had, I note that, between 2021-22 and 2023-24, only £575 million of the £1.3 billion for energy efficiency and the decarbonisation of buildings was spent. Why was that budget underspent by more than 40 per cent?
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 21 January 2025
Alexander Stewart
In the draft 2025-26 budget, you have allocated a sum of £349 million for energy efficiency and decarbonisation. You have indicated that the previous money was not spent but that you will try to continue to fund the budget line and spend the money that is left. Now you are allocating another £349 million. Can you tell us how that money will be spent to maximum effect and how you can ensure that the budget is fully spent? At the end of the day, that is what we are trying to achieve. You can allocate funding, but if it is not used and then you allocate more, the question is this: how effective is that? How do we fully spend the sums of money that you are allocating?
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 21 January 2025
Alexander Stewart
How does local government play its role in just transition and net zero, given the conditions of existing infrastructure? We have to manage with ageing schools, libraries, council buildings, leisure centres and road networks. Are councils sufficiently funded to take the action that is required to meet the targets in 2045?
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 16 January 2025
Alexander Stewart
Thank you. I know that time is tight, convener.