:00:19. > :00:25.A very warm welcome to the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood. The talk is
:00:26. > :00:32.all about money, a deal to secure the Scottish Government's budget,
:00:33. > :00:38.securing ?160 million extra for the government. A key demand from the
:00:39. > :00:44.Greens. More cash for the police. The upper threshold you enter the
:00:45. > :00:49.higher rate of taxation, we have frozen that at 40 3000. Rather than
:00:50. > :00:54.rising with inflation this as Scottish Government ministers
:00:55. > :00:56.intended. More details on that later. First questions to the First
:00:57. > :01:02.Minister. Let's go to the chamber.
:01:03. > :01:07.General questions under way, about to move to First Minister's
:01:08. > :01:11.Questions. There will also be a busy time down the road in the House of
:01:12. > :01:16.Commons, where the Brexit Minister David Davis will make a statement.
:01:17. > :01:22.We are expecting the white paper, marking the government's position on
:01:23. > :01:27.Brexit negotiations appearing after that at 1:30 p.m.. Will any
:01:28. > :01:32.discussion on that filtered through to Holyrood? We will see. We are
:01:33. > :01:37.bound to hear something on that budget deal. They will be a debate
:01:38. > :01:41.on that. The new positions the Scottish Government has reached
:01:42. > :01:45.after negotiation with the Greens. Particularly on local funding will
:01:46. > :01:48.be an issue for discussion. We'll be conservatives want to pick up on
:01:49. > :01:55.this change on the threshold for income tax? I want to ask you First
:01:56. > :01:59.Minister what engagement she has planned for the rest of the day?
:02:00. > :02:03.Taking forward the government's programme for Scotland. Does the
:02:04. > :02:07.First Minister believe that having higher rates of tax in Scotland sets
:02:08. > :02:14.a dangerous precedent for the prospects of economic growth? I have
:02:15. > :02:19.been very clear about this. This government will not increase income
:02:20. > :02:23.tax rates at a time of rising inflation, a time for pressure on
:02:24. > :02:34.how come -- pressure on household incomes. I
:02:35. > :02:38.am clear that in the time the Tory austerity, it would be wrong to cut
:02:39. > :02:44.taxes for the top 10% of income earners. We will not do that either.
:02:45. > :02:52.I am clear about our priorities. Also pretty clear for the Tory
:02:53. > :02:57.priorities. Tax cuts for the richest, at the expense of the NHS,
:02:58. > :03:02.education and those on low incomes. I cannot believe Ruth Davidson has
:03:03. > :03:05.come to talk about tax cuts for the rich after the foundation said it
:03:06. > :03:12.just this week about Tory tax policy. I hope she is listening,
:03:13. > :03:18.they said Tory tax policy will make the poorest quarter of householders
:03:19. > :03:24.up to 15% worse off. And the highest quarter 5% better. They say it will
:03:25. > :03:28.be the largest increase in inequality since the days of
:03:29. > :03:32.Margaret Thatcher. They said this about raising the higher rate
:03:33. > :03:36.threshold, it will do nothing to improve living standards for the
:03:37. > :03:41.majority of households. This government is on the side of those
:03:42. > :03:50.on low incomes, those of public services. I will like Ruth Davidson,
:03:51. > :03:56.or Harrison, whatever she is called, to argue for the rich. You can come
:03:57. > :04:10.in a protector of Scottish family's pay packets. I thank the First
:04:11. > :04:16.Minister for the answer. I have here then Admiral document that the First
:04:17. > :04:23.Minister signed up to. It is called let Scotland flourish. The SNP told
:04:24. > :04:28.us that lower taxes would send a message that Scotland is open for
:04:29. > :04:34.business. The same SNP wants to put business taxes up. It told us higher
:04:35. > :04:38.rates would send the wrong message for indigenous businesses and
:04:39. > :04:43.business is coming to Scotland. Now the wrong message is the only
:04:44. > :04:47.message. They told us that business tax cuts would protect government
:04:48. > :04:53.revenue. Because it would drive economic growth. Now they say the
:04:54. > :05:00.opposite is true. They used to get this, why not now? I think Ruth
:05:01. > :05:04.Davidson might have missed something. I do believe competitive
:05:05. > :05:08.business taxes are important. That is why we have the most competitive
:05:09. > :05:14.business rates regime of any country in the United Kingdom. Why the
:05:15. > :05:19.budget that will be debated this afternoon will lift 100,000 small
:05:20. > :05:24.businesses across this country out of business rates altogether. Let me
:05:25. > :05:31.go back to the previous issue, low income households. The truth of the
:05:32. > :05:36.matter is that the Tories are the destroyers of the living standards
:05:37. > :05:42.of those on low incomes. In case you did not hear me, let me remind her
:05:43. > :05:46.of what the Resolution Foundation had to say about Tory tax policies.
:05:47. > :05:54.They will make the poorest quarter of householders up to 15% worse off,
:05:55. > :05:59.and the highest quarter 5% better. Widening inequality, that is what
:06:00. > :06:03.the Tories are doing. This government will tackle inequality,
:06:04. > :06:15.and protect public services. That is our priorities. The Resolution
:06:16. > :06:21.Foundation found that Tory tax policy reduced inequality by a
:06:22. > :06:26.coefficient. Absolutely. The First Minister to days stood there saying
:06:27. > :06:31.she understands competitive taxation. She is about to make us
:06:32. > :06:40.the highest taxed part of the entire UK. I will tell her who she needs to
:06:41. > :06:45.listen to. She needs to listen to business leaders in Scotland. My
:06:46. > :06:49.first question quoted from Liz Cameron, the chief executive of the
:06:50. > :06:54.Scottish Chambers of commerce. I will quote her most extensively, if
:06:55. > :07:00.the First Minister likes quotes, she says people paying high income tax
:07:01. > :07:08.and Scotland would create a further barrier to Scottish business
:07:09. > :07:13.competitiveness, and harming jobs. She says the sooner that politicians
:07:14. > :07:18.realise that supporting economic growth, rather than hiking up taxes
:07:19. > :07:22.is the route to increasing revenues, and improving investment in key
:07:23. > :07:29.services, the quicker Scotland will prosper. We will vote on the budgets
:07:30. > :07:32.in five hours' time. We have been well warned what increasing taxes
:07:33. > :07:42.mean for families and businesses. Why is the first step stitching up
:07:43. > :07:46.attacks packed with the Greens rather than protecting Scottish jobs
:07:47. > :07:49.and business? I'm sure it will be of great comfort to those across the
:07:50. > :07:56.country struggling to make ends meet, those who welfare protection
:07:57. > :08:02.has been cut by the Tory government in Westminster to know that that
:08:03. > :08:06.coefficient is all right. The truth, presiding officer, as far as the
:08:07. > :08:15.Tories are concerned, the genie is out of the bottle. They are
:08:16. > :08:20.presiding over the biggest increase in inequality since the days of
:08:21. > :08:25.Margaret Thatcher. Not my words, the words of the Resolution foundation.
:08:26. > :08:31.Let me turn to business taxation, I agree with Liz Cameron about the
:08:32. > :08:38.competitiveness of business taxes. That is why this covenant is gimp on
:08:39. > :08:46.-- is delivering the most competitive taxation in the UK.
:08:47. > :08:49.15,000 businesses lifted out of taxation altogether. Let me turn to
:08:50. > :08:54.the impact on householders. The difference between me every Davidson
:08:55. > :08:58.is, I don't believe that the time the Tory austerity the priority is
:08:59. > :09:05.cutting taxes for the top 10% of earners. In terms of our draft
:09:06. > :09:10.budget, the final secretary will outline changes to Parliament this
:09:11. > :09:18.afternoon. What we are asking, the highest earners to do, is to forego
:09:19. > :09:23.a tax cuts amounting to ?6 a week. That is less than people in England
:09:24. > :09:29.paid for a single prescription. In Scotland, of course, taxpayers not
:09:30. > :09:33.only get free prescriptions, they get tuition free education, free
:09:34. > :09:37.personal care for the elderly, above inflation increases in the NHS.
:09:38. > :09:42.Detection of local services, the best deal for taxpayers anywhere in
:09:43. > :09:53.the UK. That is what this government is delivering.
:09:54. > :09:59.The First Minister seems utterly unconcerned about business impact is
:10:00. > :10:08.having for companies across Scotland. We have been speaking to
:10:09. > :10:14.companies, one of them is a hotel whose rates are going up by ?15,000.
:10:15. > :10:18.They have been faced with a choice, reluctantly putting up charges, or
:10:19. > :10:23.going bust. They have been forced to pass charges on. They have had their
:10:24. > :10:28.first complaint from a customer paying ?80 to hire a room. Let me
:10:29. > :10:33.read it out, the increase in the higher fees is excessive to say the
:10:34. > :10:37.least. Should this fee of ?80 apply to future meetings, I will confirm
:10:38. > :10:44.there will be no longer any bookings, and our business will be
:10:45. > :10:51.taken elsewhere. The name of the customer, the bounce branch of the
:10:52. > :11:00.Scottish Nationalist party. If they cannot support policy, isn't it time
:11:01. > :11:09.to do something about it? What Ruud Davidson is talking about is an
:11:10. > :11:15.independent re-evaluation of business rates. -- roof Davidson. As
:11:16. > :11:20.we have outlined, two weeks ago, the final evaluations will be later this
:11:21. > :11:27.year. All businesses have an opportunity to appeal if they think
:11:28. > :11:31.their value is wrong. Let's get back to the core issue, we have the most
:11:32. > :11:36.competitive is this rates regime in the whole of the UK. 100,000 small
:11:37. > :11:41.businesses lifted out of business rates altogether. We have a tourism
:11:42. > :11:45.sector, thanks to the good work of those in it, it is booming.
:11:46. > :11:50.Employment rising much faster than the rest of the UK. The best
:11:51. > :11:55.performing part of the UK outside of the south-east of England for inward
:11:56. > :11:59.investment. These are the success stories of the Scottish economy, we
:12:00. > :12:05.will continue to invest in the success of our economy. We will make
:12:06. > :12:09.sure we protect public services, and those on low incomes. That is what
:12:10. > :12:18.the budget will deliver, and I am proud to put it forward to this
:12:19. > :12:22.parliament later today. The members seem a little excitable ahead of the
:12:23. > :12:29.budget. Can I ask members to show respect to each other? I asked the
:12:30. > :12:32.First Minister was engagement she has planned for the rest of the
:12:33. > :12:37.week? To take thought the government's programme for Scotland.
:12:38. > :12:40.In September I asked the First Minister about the number of people
:12:41. > :12:46.being referred for mental health treatment, only to have the referral
:12:47. > :12:49.rejected. The first minute to express concern, saying she was
:12:50. > :12:54.determined to act. Can the First Minister now tell us how many more
:12:55. > :13:00.young people have been rejected for mental health treatment since I last
:13:01. > :13:05.brought the crisis to the chamber? We continue to invest in improving
:13:06. > :13:09.mental health services. I have made it very clear to voices across the
:13:10. > :13:14.chamber the priority we attach to that is a government. We have rising
:13:15. > :13:18.demand for mental health services, which is something we should
:13:19. > :13:21.welcome, meaning the stigma is reducing, more people coming
:13:22. > :13:27.forward. Waiting times are producing, more people treated. Not
:13:28. > :13:31.just rising investment, but rising numbers of staff. I readily accept
:13:32. > :13:35.we have much more work still to do. Not unique in that sense in
:13:36. > :13:39.Scotland, many countries experiencing the same challenges. We
:13:40. > :13:45.are determined through our new mental health strategy to meet those
:13:46. > :13:49.new challenges head-on. The members will have noticed the First Minister
:13:50. > :13:54.was unable to answer the question. Let me share the reality. Since the
:13:55. > :14:00.First Minister promised to act, there have been another 1600 cases
:14:01. > :14:04.of young people rejected for mental health treatment. That takes the
:14:05. > :14:08.total to ten and a half thousand cases overall. Thousands and
:14:09. > :14:13.thousands of children and young adults in crisis, who have turned to
:14:14. > :14:19.professionals for help, only to be turned away. We could reduce the
:14:20. > :14:22.number of people needing clinical treatment in the first place.
:14:23. > :14:29.School-based counselling is key to that. I came to this chamber with a
:14:30. > :14:32.published plan for every secondary school to have access to a
:14:33. > :14:38.counsellor. The First Minister said she would look at it. Not asking for
:14:39. > :14:42.any new money, just a fraction of the ?150 million the government is
:14:43. > :14:48.spending the mental health. We have had the warm words, when will we get
:14:49. > :14:51.the action? As she knows, the plans she brought forward are being looked
:14:52. > :14:57.at in the context of developing the mental health strategy. That is work
:14:58. > :15:01.on going, and I thought she would have welcomed that work and the
:15:02. > :15:06.consideration given to those plans. In terms of numbers, lately point
:15:07. > :15:12.out that in terms of recent statistics, the number of patients
:15:13. > :15:17.seen by services has increased by 21%, we have seen long waits
:15:18. > :15:23.reducing, and we have seen the number of patients seen within the
:15:24. > :15:28.waiting times also improving. This is progress. It is progress on an
:15:29. > :15:33.issue where I have readily accepted and continue to do so, that we need
:15:34. > :15:36.to do more work. That is why the ?150 million of extra investment
:15:37. > :15:41.backing the mental health strategy is so important. On an issue that is
:15:42. > :15:46.so important, I would hope all of us in the chamber would get behind it.
:15:47. > :15:49.The First Minister said the government are looking at it,
:15:50. > :15:55.considering it as part of the mental health strategy that is interesting,
:15:56. > :15:58.that is not what Maureen Watt told the mental health committee. She is
:15:59. > :16:05.a provision of councillors in schools was a matter for local
:16:06. > :16:08.authorities. How on earth does the First Minister think local
:16:09. > :16:12.authorities can do this when they are faced with millions of pounds of
:16:13. > :16:15.cuts? The cuts we are faced with voting on this afternoon will make
:16:16. > :16:19.it all the harder for schools and other local services to provide the
:16:20. > :16:25.help young people need. These cuts will punish kids already in crisis.
:16:26. > :16:29.He does not have to be this way. Will the First Minister do the right
:16:30. > :16:33.thing, scrapped the cuts and investing Scotland's public services
:16:34. > :16:38.instead? Any mental health strategy that will be successful has to
:16:39. > :16:40.involve the Scottish Government working not just with the National
:16:41. > :16:45.Health Service and local authorities. The fact that
:16:46. > :16:49.councillors is a matter for local authorities does not mean it is
:16:50. > :16:51.something we will look at as part of the mental health strategy, I would
:16:52. > :16:56.think that point would be very obvious. She stands up and talks
:16:57. > :17:02.about extra funding for mental health services, but she and her
:17:03. > :17:06.colleagues are intending to vote against the budget to date including
:17:07. > :17:19.extra commitment to mental health services. -- today. It says involves
:17:20. > :17:22.her coming of the leader of the third party coming to the party that
:17:23. > :17:31.won the election saying they live and talk to us if we rip up our
:17:32. > :17:37.manifesto, and implement bears. It is student politics. That is what
:17:38. > :17:40.rendered Labour are relevant, delivering no implements and
:17:41. > :17:44.delivering nothing on behalf of the people they are supposed to
:17:45. > :17:45.represent. When it comes to budget discussions, Labour should be deeply
:17:46. > :17:58.ashamed of themselves. Two constituency questions, the
:17:59. > :18:07.first from Claire Baker. Thank you presiding officer. Almost two years
:18:08. > :18:16.since the death on the streets of Jacoby. The family still do not know
:18:17. > :18:22.what happened that morning in 2015. Now the potential for civil action
:18:23. > :18:30.as his family search for answers. Can the First Minister tell us that
:18:31. > :18:33.the Crown will reach a conclusion on the report. And an enquiry on to the
:18:34. > :18:47.wider deaths in custody. Can she make sure nobody else will have to
:18:48. > :18:52.go through that experience? It would not be comedic comment on the
:18:53. > :18:56.specifics of the case. The Crown Office has indicated a decision will
:18:57. > :19:02.be made as soon as possible. The Lord Advocate is meeting Sheku
:19:03. > :19:07.Bayoh's family to discuss the case. The previous Lord Advocate made it
:19:08. > :19:12.clear that regardless of the investigation the fatal accident
:19:13. > :19:14.enquiry will be heard. This will include public scrutiny into the
:19:15. > :19:18.incident. I personally made it clear to the family when I met them I am
:19:19. > :19:21.not ruling anything out in terms of white enquiry at an appropriate
:19:22. > :19:26.point in the future if that is required. I hope the member will
:19:27. > :19:31.agree with me, it is important to allow the processes to take their
:19:32. > :19:36.course and conclude. The First Minister will be aware of the report
:19:37. > :19:40.from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde setting out cuts of 330 million
:19:41. > :19:49.pounds, and the sweet -- sweeping centralisation of
:19:50. > :19:53.services. The balance of care has been used as a cover for cuts.
:19:54. > :19:59.Specifically the report talks about cutting unscheduled care assessment.
:20:00. > :20:03.On that basis, will she guarantee what she promised in the Vale
:20:04. > :20:08.vision, that the medical assessment unit will remain in place? Firstly I
:20:09. > :20:13.think Jackie Baillie is being slightly misleading in her question.
:20:14. > :20:17.Referring to report that was never discussed by Greater Glasgow and
:20:18. > :20:21.Clyde health board. The chair of the board said he did not agree with it
:20:22. > :20:26.and they did not go forward for discussion. The Health Secretary
:20:27. > :20:30.said had such a report gone forward for discussion she would not have
:20:31. > :20:34.approved any of the proposals. For Jackie Baillie stand up and try to
:20:35. > :20:38.give the impression this is the policy of Glasgow in greater Clyde
:20:39. > :20:43.health board is misleading. This government will continue to do were
:20:44. > :20:48.discovered has done is from day one in 2007, continuing to do what the
:20:49. > :20:53.previous Labour administration failed to do over many years, and
:20:54. > :21:00.continue to protect services at the Vale hospital. I Russell First
:21:01. > :21:07.Minister when the Cabinet will next meet? With the next meet on Monday.
:21:08. > :21:12.It'll be the first of the travelling cabinets year. Everyone in this
:21:13. > :21:17.chamber, and this country understands the value of public
:21:18. > :21:22.local services to all of our quality-of-life. Over recent weeks,
:21:23. > :21:27.councils in this country have been forced to contemplate cuts to a wide
:21:28. > :21:34.range of services, unacceptable cuts from bigots class sizes to scrapping
:21:35. > :21:37.public transport. Ignoring late-night noise and vandalism
:21:38. > :21:44.complaints, to scaling back recycling. Removing librarians and
:21:45. > :21:48.specialist support staff from schools, to increasing charges for
:21:49. > :21:50.people burying their relatives. This is not a position that any
:21:51. > :21:57.government should leave our councils in. Late last year, under pressure
:21:58. > :22:00.from the Greens and others, the government gave ground on the
:22:01. > :22:05.centralised control of additional council tax revenue, that will be
:22:06. > :22:10.available for councils to allocate as they see fit in local
:22:11. > :22:15.circumstances. Isn't it clear, presiding Officer, that even if we
:22:16. > :22:18.do see this afternoon a budget concession restoring significant
:22:19. > :22:24.funding to protect local services in every part of Scotland, that is not
:22:25. > :22:28.only essential, but should mark the beginning of a new approach. One in
:22:29. > :22:34.which we invest not only resources, but local control back into the
:22:35. > :22:39.hands of our communities. As the chamber has heard me say before, the
:22:40. > :22:43.draft budget the Finance Secretary outlined to the chamber at the end
:22:44. > :22:52.of last year involved funding, additional funding if councils used
:22:53. > :22:56.council tax powers of ?240 million additional funding for local
:22:57. > :22:59.services. That was a strong draft budget for the protection of local
:23:00. > :23:05.services. What the Finance Secretary also said is that he wanted to
:23:06. > :23:09.listen to parties across the chamber and enter into constructive
:23:10. > :23:12.discussion about how we could take forward these priorities as well as
:23:13. > :23:16.the priorities we have identified. It is fair to say the Conservatives
:23:17. > :23:22.and Labour refused to take part in any meaningful way in that
:23:23. > :23:27.discussion. The Lib Dems at least made the pretence of doing so,
:23:28. > :23:32.whether it was serious I'm not sure. What the budget this afternoon I
:23:33. > :23:38.think will outline is the continued priority to protect local services.
:23:39. > :23:43.Also making clear that those in the chamber prepared to take part in
:23:44. > :23:47.constructive discussions achieve something on behalf of those they
:23:48. > :23:54.represent. The hats other parties across the chamber could learn from
:23:55. > :23:58.that. -- perhaps the other parties. I'm sure all of our colleagues look
:23:59. > :24:02.forward to hearing the detail of what is announced this afternoon. I
:24:03. > :24:04.can hear how eager they are to hear the details needed now. Can I make a
:24:05. > :24:14.further point? Isn't it clear that the Spike Lee
:24:15. > :24:17.further progress we will see this afternoon, tax policy, with the new
:24:18. > :24:21.powers devolved to the Scottish Parliament can no longer be based
:24:22. > :24:25.for the duration of the parliament on manifesto written years in
:24:26. > :24:31.advance. That was the approach in the first year of devolution, when
:24:32. > :24:36.this was just a spending parliament. We now to some extent make fiscal
:24:37. > :24:39.policy in Scotland. It is essential not only to respond to the balance
:24:40. > :24:45.of using parliament, but also events, that we have seen since
:24:46. > :24:50.manifestos were written, the Brexit vote, the fall in the value of the
:24:51. > :24:55.pound, a new UK Government, changes to UK fiscal policy. Isn't it clear
:24:56. > :24:59.that tax policy throughout the parliament cannot be based on
:25:00. > :25:03.manifestos written in previous years, and the house to be a living
:25:04. > :25:09.debate, one in which we take new directions forward, with new powers
:25:10. > :25:15.we have available? I do agree that any responsible government has to
:25:16. > :25:20.take account of developments, things happening in the economy, and wider
:25:21. > :25:24.society when it comes to budget decisions. The manifesto on which
:25:25. > :25:28.this garment was elected was not written years ago, less than one
:25:29. > :25:32.year ago. It is reasonable for this cover to say to the Scottish people
:25:33. > :25:37.we want to seek to implement the promises we made to them. In terms
:25:38. > :25:42.of Patrick Harvie's quite legitimate comments about the impact the
:25:43. > :25:47.Brexit. These impacts cut both ways. On one hand, one of the implications
:25:48. > :25:52.of the Brexit vote, because of the fall in the value of the pound is
:25:53. > :25:55.rising inflation, putting greater pressure on household incomes. That
:25:56. > :26:00.does underline the commitment to discover that not to increase income
:26:01. > :26:04.tax rates in this government. It also puts pressure on public
:26:05. > :26:07.services. Which I think underlines the commitment of this government at
:26:08. > :26:11.this time not to give a tax cut to those who earn the most in this
:26:12. > :26:17.country, the top 10% of income earners. The budget which will be
:26:18. > :26:24.outlined in this afternoon, strikes the right balance. It does also
:26:25. > :26:27.demonstrates where other parties in this chamber are willing to come
:26:28. > :26:31.forward with constructive suggestions, they will find a
:26:32. > :26:34.government willing to listen. There will be one opposition party in this
:26:35. > :26:38.chamber this afternoon that can say to the people they represent that
:26:39. > :26:43.they have managed to achieve something. The other opposition
:26:44. > :26:48.parties, and this is a serious point, they have achieved not one
:26:49. > :26:52.single brass penny in this budget for the people they are supposed to
:26:53. > :27:00.be representing. And I think they should be ashamed of that. I asked
:27:01. > :27:04.the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of
:27:05. > :27:15.the Cabinet? Those of the people of Scotland. Once upon a time the First
:27:16. > :27:21.Minister said... Listen carefully, the First Minister said that the
:27:22. > :27:28.police were safe in her hands. Now she says the same about Highlands
:27:29. > :27:33.and Islands enterprise. This week we discovered through Freedom of
:27:34. > :27:37.information that the economy secretary had to be educated about
:27:38. > :27:42.what it does. After he had made the decision to abolish the board.
:27:43. > :27:48.Instead of carrying on regardless, in the dark, can the First Minister
:27:49. > :27:55.announced to date that the board of Highlands and Islands enterprise
:27:56. > :28:00.will not be abolished? Can I thank the Willie Rennie for reminding us
:28:01. > :28:07.at the start of the question that the Lib Dems occupy a fairy tale
:28:08. > :28:10.world? In terms of the police, an important priority for this
:28:11. > :28:15.government, the draft budget outlined before Christmas delivered
:28:16. > :28:21.real terms protection for the resource budget of the police, which
:28:22. > :28:26.we will see over this Parliament. An additional ?1 million going to
:28:27. > :28:30.front-line policing. Who knows? I am only speculating, the Finance
:28:31. > :28:35.Secretary may have more to say on these matters this afternoon. On the
:28:36. > :28:38.question of Highlands and Islands enterprise, I and the economy
:28:39. > :28:42.secretary are on record praising the good work it does. And the
:28:43. > :28:47.determination of this government is reported to continue to do the work.
:28:48. > :28:52.The review under way now is that looking at how we make sure all of
:28:53. > :28:56.our enterprise agencies, working in the area of economic development and
:28:57. > :28:59.skills provision are working together in a coordinated way to
:29:00. > :29:05.deliver maximum impact on our economy. We will continue to allow
:29:06. > :29:14.that process to take its course. The economy secretary was answering
:29:15. > :29:17.about the work and will report back to Parliament on these matters in
:29:18. > :29:29.due course. I think she needs a new joke writer. Another review by one
:29:30. > :29:38.of our quango bosses, no substitute for a vote in this Parliament to
:29:39. > :29:43.project her plans. The former chairman of Highlands and Islands
:29:44. > :29:46.enterprise, Professor Jim Hunter denounced the move is ministerial
:29:47. > :29:54.control free to read. Centralism running riot. He is a member of the
:29:55. > :29:58.SNP. Highlands and Islands enterprise did not ask for this
:29:59. > :30:02.change, local people do not want this change. The democratically
:30:03. > :30:08.elected parliament of this country voted against this change. Yet this
:30:09. > :30:11.government is hell-bent on taking control, running everything from the
:30:12. > :30:18.centre, ignoring the needs of the Highlands and Islands. Why is it
:30:19. > :30:22.that despite all the experience, she is so determined that she knows
:30:23. > :30:28.better than everybody else? I am not sure if Willie Rennie was in the
:30:29. > :30:32.chamber a few moments before first Mr's questions, when Keith Graham
:30:33. > :30:36.was answering questions on the issue. Maybe he was too busy loving
:30:37. > :30:49.himself outside the chamber, to find himself inside of it. If he had...
:30:50. > :30:56.If he had been in the chamber, he would have heard Keith Brown quoting
:30:57. > :31:02.Jim Hunter, and quite some of the representations made not just by Jim
:31:03. > :31:05.Hunter, but by council leaders and MSPs on my own benches doing a good
:31:06. > :31:09.job on behalf of the people they represent. We will continue to
:31:10. > :31:13.listen to those representations, we are in the second phase of review,
:31:14. > :31:16.and we will allow the review to conclude in due course and come back
:31:17. > :31:20.to Parliament and report the findings of that review. That is the
:31:21. > :31:25.appropriate right way to go about things. As we do that we will
:31:26. > :31:32.continue to protect Highlands and Islands catlike enterprise and the
:31:33. > :31:40.ability they do for the people of our Highlands and Islands.
:31:41. > :31:47.Is just the First Minister agree that other spam and agrees to have a
:31:48. > :31:54.referendum on Scotland assessment future then no Westminster Tories
:31:55. > :32:00.should try and stand in their way? If this parliament voted to have a
:32:01. > :32:03.referendum on independence, then absolutely, I agree that no
:32:04. > :32:08.Westminster Tory should stand in the wake of the voice of this
:32:09. > :32:13.Parliament. The mandate of this Government, in relation to this, is
:32:14. > :32:16.unequivocal. It was the Tories, after all, hope that us in the
:32:17. > :32:22.position of being taken out of the European Union against our will, and
:32:23. > :32:28.with the support of only one of the 59 MPs in this country. It's
:32:29. > :32:33.strange, is it not, that a Tory party that proclaims it would be so
:32:34. > :32:39.confident of winning a referendum on independence now talks about trying
:32:40. > :32:50.to block it. Isn't it the case that the Tories are actually running a
:32:51. > :32:53.wee bit scared? To ask the First Minister what
:32:54. > :32:58.representations the Scottish Government has made to the UK
:32:59. > :33:02.Government towards the closure of job centres in Scotland is?
:33:03. > :33:06.I'm very concerned about the announcement by DWP to close up to
:33:07. > :33:11.30 job in the past site in Scotland. The lack of consultation with the
:33:12. > :33:15.communities affected I think is totally unacceptable. These closures
:33:16. > :33:18.will see the people who rely on job centre services travelling further,
:33:19. > :33:25.encouraging increased transport costs and increased risk of benefit
:33:26. > :33:31.sanctions. It's important the Government reconsiders this
:33:32. > :33:34.approach. Clarification has been sought on the impact on the people
:33:35. > :33:41.who use job centres and the people who rely on these vital services
:33:42. > :33:46.will stop in a recent debate I brought strong cross-party support
:33:47. > :33:52.to save my local Job Centre of Maryhill in Glasgow.
:33:53. > :33:56.The Conservatives refuse to, and I quote, condone or condemn the
:33:57. > :34:00.closures. One of the closures was an Ruth Davidson's own Edinburgh
:34:01. > :34:04.constituency. Just a First Minister agree with me that it is time for
:34:05. > :34:11.all MSPs in this place, including Ruth Davidson, unite in condemning
:34:12. > :34:14.the closure of the job centre plus offices until there is full
:34:15. > :34:20.consultation with the communities affected, as well as ensuring Phil
:34:21. > :34:27.impact assessments carried out. Let's defend our constituents.
:34:28. > :34:32.I do agree that it is important for all MSPs across the chamber to unite
:34:33. > :34:38.to convince Westminster to reconsider their approach. And to
:34:39. > :34:42.consult all the committees affected by the closure of what our local
:34:43. > :34:47.services. The Scottish garment is taking a lead on this, and I know
:34:48. > :34:52.Bob Doris and others have taken a key role in opposing closures in
:34:53. > :34:57.Glasgow and other places. I think it is unfortunate that Tory MSPs are
:34:58. > :34:59.declining to stand up and be counted on this issue that is so important
:35:00. > :35:04.to Glasgow and other parts of Scotland. Equally unfortunate that
:35:05. > :35:08.Ruth Davidson herself has declined to stand up for vulnerable people in
:35:09. > :35:12.her own constituency that might be affected by these closures. Having
:35:13. > :35:16.it's time for all of us across this chamber to say to the UK Government
:35:17. > :35:20.that these closures are wrong, they will harm vulnerable people, and
:35:21. > :35:28.these proposals must be urgently reconsidered.
:35:29. > :35:32.To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's responses to
:35:33. > :35:36.the auditor general's comments regarding Police Scotland, and the
:35:37. > :35:40.lack of progress made in demonstrating a financial leadership
:35:41. > :35:48.is unacceptable for any financial -- public body.
:35:49. > :35:55.The Scottish police's accounts have been signed off unqualified. The
:35:56. > :35:59.response to the audit is that Police Scotland have taken steps to improve
:36:00. > :36:02.both financial leadership and management, but these have not yet
:36:03. > :36:06.have a chance to have an impact. The steps include appointing a director
:36:07. > :36:12.of corporate services, strategy and change, and a chief financial
:36:13. > :36:16.officer to provide strategical leadership on all financial matters.
:36:17. > :36:18.This post will soon be filled permanently.
:36:19. > :36:23.I thank the first most of that response. Just five months ago she
:36:24. > :36:27.said, I don't think the single force is in crisis. In response to the
:36:28. > :36:34.auditor General, seven days ago, senior SNP is MSP Alex Neil said the
:36:35. > :36:39.organisation is in crisis. Who should we believe?
:36:40. > :36:43.The police service is not an crisis, on the contrary, it is doing a
:36:44. > :36:47.fantastic job the length and breadth of this country. Having it's
:36:48. > :36:52.incumbent on all of us to get behind them. It is a sign of the importance
:36:53. > :36:58.this Government attaches to the work of the police that the draft budget
:36:59. > :37:02.did protect in real terms the police budgets, over the lifetime of this
:37:03. > :37:06.parliament that will mean ?100 million more going into front-line
:37:07. > :37:10.services, and Derek Mackay will present any changes to that later
:37:11. > :37:14.this afternoon. Will continue to support the fantastic work of our
:37:15. > :37:19.police force -- officers, because they do a fantastic job in keeping
:37:20. > :37:24.each and every one of us safe. To as the First Minister how many
:37:25. > :37:31.refugees the Scottish Government expects to welcome in 2017?
:37:32. > :37:34.Scotland has already received around 1300 refugees under the Syrian
:37:35. > :37:39.refugee resettlement programme, and refugees continue to arrive. The
:37:40. > :37:42.arrival of refugees is dependent on many factors, including assessment
:37:43. > :37:50.and screening by direct eg agency and Home Office. The matching of
:37:51. > :37:54.logistical matters such as flight, travel documents and visas. For
:37:55. > :37:58.those reasons, I can't get a figure of the exact number of people who
:37:59. > :38:02.will arrive this year. However, I can say that Scotland will continue
:38:03. > :38:06.to be a country which welcomes those seeking refuge from war and
:38:07. > :38:13.persecution, and we're committed to welcoming as many as we can of those
:38:14. > :38:18.arriving in the UK in 2017. In a little over two weeks,
:38:19. > :38:23.President Trump has defended torture, banned US aid to
:38:24. > :38:28.organisations providing health care to women in developing countries,
:38:29. > :38:36.insulted dues on map Holocaust Memorial Day. He has opposed an
:38:37. > :38:41.outright ban on Syrian refugees. At the same time, held hands with
:38:42. > :38:45.Theresa May. Many these actions are designed to incite hatred and create
:38:46. > :38:49.division. Whether First Minister join me in saying that, while we
:38:50. > :38:53.can't be complacent about acts of hatred and prejudice, we should
:38:54. > :38:57.recognise the 1.8 million people across the UK has signed a petition
:38:58. > :39:02.to withdraw the red carpet from President Trump, and also paid
:39:03. > :39:06.tribute to all this people, right across the world, irrespective of
:39:07. > :39:13.their faith, colour, other nationality, there are join together
:39:14. > :39:19.to say we support humanity entered as its forms.
:39:20. > :39:25.Yes, I do endorse those comments. I disagree deeply and profoundly with
:39:26. > :39:31.the executive orders issued by President Trump last week, banning
:39:32. > :39:36.Syrian refugees and also imposing a travel ban on people from seven
:39:37. > :39:42.Muslim-majority countries across the world. Banning people, or even
:39:43. > :39:47.giving the perception that people are being banned on the basis of
:39:48. > :39:52.their faith, religion or origin is profoundly, in my view, morally
:39:53. > :39:57.wrong. I think all of that asset should stand up and say that. I have
:39:58. > :40:00.already made my views clear about how inappropriate I believe it would
:40:01. > :40:04.be to allow a state visit to proceed while these bands are in place, and
:40:05. > :40:09.I would hope the UK Government will think again on this. Indeed, I had
:40:10. > :40:13.the opportunity to express these views directly to the primers to
:40:14. > :40:17.when I met her in Cardiff on Monday. The last thing I will say is this,
:40:18. > :40:22.people around the world have expressed horror at these policies,
:40:23. > :40:26.and we all have a duty on matters as fundamentally important as these to
:40:27. > :40:32.speak out, speak up and oppose where that is Mrs vary. I think we're
:40:33. > :40:38.under irradiated to do more than that, all of us have to lead by
:40:39. > :40:43.example for the world we want to live in. Scotland is a road have a
:40:44. > :40:46.small country, but I think in the actions we have our day taken in
:40:47. > :40:51.accepting Syrian refugees, the actions we continue to take to give
:40:52. > :40:53.refuge to those fleeing war and persecution, we can demonstrate
:40:54. > :41:00.through our actions the kind of world we want to live in. So, yes,
:41:01. > :41:08.let's oppose, but let also lead by example, and I want Scotland to
:41:09. > :41:12.always do that. To ask the First Minister what
:41:13. > :41:16.action the Scottish Government is taking to support people who have
:41:17. > :41:20.been newly diagnosed with dementia? We will soon publish our new
:41:21. > :41:26.dementia strategy which will outline a range of actions will undertake to
:41:27. > :41:30.improve the delivery of dementia services. We also wish to improve
:41:31. > :41:35.access for people with a new diagnosis of dementia to be provided
:41:36. > :41:39.diagnostic support from an appropriate link worker.
:41:40. > :41:45.The First Minister may be aware that recent figures show that out of all
:41:46. > :41:52.those newly diagnosed with dementia, only two in five patients receive
:41:53. > :41:58.months of post I must support. Given the delivery plan says all people
:41:59. > :42:02.newly diagnosed should receive such support by 2015-16, dishy except her
:42:03. > :42:09.Government hasn't done nearly enough to ensure this target has been met?
:42:10. > :42:15.I agree we have more to do. In terms of the commitments we get around
:42:16. > :42:19.dementia, diagnosis generally, but also post I must it support, we are
:42:20. > :42:23.ahead of many countries around the world, and I think it is important
:42:24. > :42:26.to recognise that. Most people are getting oppose diagnostic support
:42:27. > :42:29.would not have been getting it at all unless we had set a very clear
:42:30. > :42:32.commitment around that. I was Health Secretary will be said that
:42:33. > :42:36.commitment, I know exactly how important matters. The figures the
:42:37. > :42:42.member has cited to underline the fact that we have more to do.
:42:43. > :42:47.Similar comments were made earlier in relation to mental health. We
:42:48. > :42:49.with the changing demographics in western society, more and more
:42:50. > :42:54.people are going to be living longer, that means more and more
:42:55. > :42:58.people are going to be living with dementia. This has applications for
:42:59. > :43:02.all aspects of our society, and it is vital that we get it right, that
:43:03. > :43:07.is what this Government is determined to do.
:43:08. > :43:12.May I ask the First Minister if she recognises the very particular
:43:13. > :43:16.issues that come to a family when there is a diagnosis of early-onset
:43:17. > :43:21.dementia, when sometimes there are still children in the home, people
:43:22. > :43:24.can still be of working age, it has a very particular difficulties. Then
:43:25. > :43:29.she let me know whether there are plans to improve data collection on
:43:30. > :43:33.this, so provision can be made. And recognition across potatoes
:43:34. > :43:37.departments of Government that, in these particular cases, very special
:43:38. > :43:46.attention has to be paid? I think it is right to raise the
:43:47. > :43:50.issue of early-onset dementia. The diagnosis for anyone at any stage in
:43:51. > :43:53.their life is a devastating one. Article issues are raised around
:43:54. > :43:59.those diagnosed with dementia at a younger age, even greater
:44:00. > :44:07.implications for family, for example. The data is important here.
:44:08. > :44:11.Last year, health Scotland published data and recommendations on
:44:12. > :44:14.approving services were under 65 is. Better information for employers and
:44:15. > :44:19.more age-appropriate services, and we will continue to consider the
:44:20. > :44:24.recommendations as part of the next dementia strategy. We're also taking
:44:25. > :44:32.action for those under the age of 65, focusing on key areas including
:44:33. > :44:35.the fact that networks are as strong as possible. And also help with
:44:36. > :44:40.financial issues that can impact on these particular care groups. So
:44:41. > :44:43.does this is important. But it is also right to talk about the
:44:44. > :44:48.importance of data so we know attack with the challenge we're dealing
:44:49. > :44:53.with and how best to deal with that. Desmond exactly the challenge.
:44:54. > :44:58.Figures on post diagnostic support sure there is a huge gap between the
:44:59. > :45:03.Scottish Durham's pledge of support and a real experiences the people
:45:04. > :45:08.have. Given that social care partnerships are ready struggling to
:45:09. > :45:14.meet the Scottish Government's guaranteed, and local boys will have
:45:15. > :45:16.to meet additional 40 funding shortfalls, where is the guarantee
:45:17. > :45:21.that everyone with a new diagnosis of dementia will receive a minimum
:45:22. > :45:27.of one year post I support? As well as the above-inflation
:45:28. > :45:30.increase we are committed to delivering for the National Health
:45:31. > :45:36.Service, the member will be aware that we are committed to make sure
:45:37. > :45:41.that funding goes into the health service that he talks about. Last
:45:42. > :45:45.year it was ?250 million, this year an additional ?107 million will go
:45:46. > :45:52.in. That is part of the funding commitments that Voyager services
:45:53. > :45:56.such as these can be delivered. I said this in part in a previous and
:45:57. > :46:00.Sir, this commitment is really important. It is a commitment that
:46:01. > :46:04.doesn't exist in many other countries. We were one of the first
:46:05. > :46:09.countries to get this commitment to post diagnostic support. And, yes,
:46:10. > :46:13.we have made progress in delivering that, but we have more progress to
:46:14. > :46:17.make. I do think it's important that we don't shy away from giving these
:46:18. > :46:22.ground-breaking commitments, because it may be difficult to deliver them.
:46:23. > :46:26.I'd rather we'll working towards that as we are doing with the
:46:27. > :46:30.funding strategy necessary to deliver it, and that's what we will
:46:31. > :46:32.keep focused on. That includes First Minister's
:46:33. > :46:37.Questions. STUDIO: An eclectic mix, but
:46:38. > :46:42.dominated by exchanges of the budget.
:46:43. > :46:49.We'll get a statement later on the Budget Bill stage one. We'll go to
:46:50. > :46:53.the budget later, but that question from Tom Arthur, he was talking
:46:54. > :46:59.about the remarks by Michael Farren in the Herald and also on good
:47:00. > :47:05.morning Scotland this morning. Michael Fallon the Defence
:47:06. > :47:09.Secretary's in Scotland today, there's bit of a Tory Government
:47:10. > :47:13.love bombing going on, because Chris Grayling is here as well. Ahead of
:47:14. > :47:20.his arrival today, Michael Fallon had said effectively the UK
:47:21. > :47:23.Government would block any second independence referendum.
:47:24. > :47:30.He was asked that facilitated, he said, forget it.
:47:31. > :47:37.You can imagine he received a phone call from rove -- Ruth Davidson,
:47:38. > :47:40.because this is not the sort of message the tourist descending out.
:47:41. > :47:45.He went on to track good morning Scotland, giving a more new songs --
:47:46. > :47:52.new one statement, saying that the Government should be getting on with
:47:53. > :47:57.the business of domestic policy. What did you make of it? Nicola
:47:58. > :48:00.Sturgeon saw a chance there, didn't she?
:48:01. > :48:04.Shoot dead. Talking like getting on with the day job, that's what
:48:05. > :48:07.Michael Fallon wants the Scottish Government today, but know they can
:48:08. > :48:11.surely turn back and say the same thing to him. He shouldn't be coming
:48:12. > :48:14.up to Scotland saying, you know what, at the Scottish Parliament
:48:15. > :48:19.votes for another referendum, we're not go into give it to you. He's got
:48:20. > :48:30.straight on his job. Did he mean that, or did he mean,
:48:31. > :48:32.don't do it, it's not a good idea. The demeanour veto, or it's not a
:48:33. > :48:35.good scheme? And think what he meant when he
:48:36. > :48:38.mentioned the veto is what a lot of Tories in London think is that
:48:39. > :48:43.Nicola Sturgeon is bluffing. Repeatedly, she has said she is not.
:48:44. > :48:46.I don't think she is bluffing, there is a question about timing and
:48:47. > :48:50.whether not she's getting the right level of public support. He's
:48:51. > :48:55.probably channelling a response and I shall reaction from Tories in
:48:56. > :48:58.London. The key issue is that a definitely doesn't think it's and
:48:59. > :49:04.intelligent thing to happen. Let's turn to the budget, the
:49:05. > :49:10.subject of stage one today. We reckon it's a deal with the Greens,
:49:11. > :49:18.money on Government services and freezing the threshold of other 40lb
:49:19. > :49:22.tax rate as was intended. The Tories jumped on that, that is a point
:49:23. > :49:25.about tax. Ruth Davidson making it very clear
:49:26. > :49:30.that the Tories would support the budget. They say it will make
:49:31. > :49:35.Scotland their highest-taxed part of the UK. And Ruth Davidson rebranded
:49:36. > :49:39.herself as the protector of Scotland's pay packets.
:49:40. > :49:44.Woody you make of it? The irony is that Michael Fallon
:49:45. > :49:47.urged Nicola Sturgeon to get on with the day job, and that's that I watch
:49:48. > :49:50.she's doing today. She will deliver with the Scottish Greens something
:49:51. > :49:56.of eight political coup, something that will pay very well with her
:49:57. > :50:02.base, it will counterpoint with Tories want to cut taxes.
:50:03. > :50:06.She is adamant it's not an increased, it's just not taking the
:50:07. > :50:09.cuts that will tate other the border.
:50:10. > :50:15.She's also adamant she is not raising the raids.
:50:16. > :50:19.In the sense, she is getting the best of both worlds. She's still
:50:20. > :50:23.freezing the current rate, which means the people that are on the
:50:24. > :50:27.higher band will be paying more tax than anywhere else in the UK. With
:50:28. > :50:32.inflation, they will still be putting more into the Scottish
:50:33. > :50:37.Government's coppers. That means she can spend it on politically
:50:38. > :50:40.attractive policies which allow higher to then throw back at the
:50:41. > :50:44.Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats in, we are putting money
:50:45. > :50:49.back into public services, we are doing what you demanded, but you
:50:50. > :50:56.haven't helped us do it. The point previously has been that
:50:57. > :51:00.the cuts in the governments, this ain't no, if you include services
:51:01. > :51:06.including going to schools, it's and increase. There's a lot a concession
:51:07. > :51:13.that was wrong in the first place? It could be seen as that. It aims to
:51:14. > :51:17.Greens have got about a extra for local governments, and that's about
:51:18. > :51:20.half the money that Labour says has been cut from councils, quite a
:51:21. > :51:26.significant concession of the Greens to win. It is telling that Nicola
:51:27. > :51:29.Sturgeon pointedly told the other opposition parties in the chamber,
:51:30. > :51:33.look at what happens when you deal with the Government.
:51:34. > :51:38.She relate hammock that Homer. You can have a deal or, what is it you
:51:39. > :51:42.always say, moaning on the sidelines?
:51:43. > :51:49.There are a two crucial elements of this deal today, firstly, this now
:51:50. > :51:52.times the Scottish Greens in with the SNP as a pro-independent
:51:53. > :51:55.coalition in the Scottish Parliament. This means the Scottish
:51:56. > :51:59.Greens are now more likely to start helping Nicola Sturgeon's Government
:52:00. > :52:03.on issues like motion rejecting the Article 50 bill in the UK
:52:04. > :52:08.Parliament. It increases the chances of the Scottish Greens of publicly
:52:09. > :52:13.supporting an independent Referendum Bill. And for the Greens in means
:52:14. > :52:16.that when they go into it may's local government elections, they can
:52:17. > :52:20.point in lots of SNP voters who may get them a second or third vote in
:52:21. > :52:29.multi-member wards. That was there concern, who is them
:52:30. > :52:32.most concerned of an all action? That many other supporters may be
:52:33. > :52:37.nationalists? Patrick Harvie needs to bind in
:52:38. > :52:43.pro-independence voters in order to perpetuate meaningful help to get
:52:44. > :52:47.Green councillors through the May elections.
:52:48. > :52:50.Necklace Turgeon heading more money for the police, but that doesn't
:52:51. > :52:53.appear to be part of the deal with the Greens, that appears to be
:52:54. > :52:56.separate in the changes to the budget.
:52:57. > :52:59.This is something else that came open questions, the problem is that
:53:00. > :53:05.Polly Scotland has been having. Ongoing problems with funding, a
:53:06. > :53:11.funding black hole that has grown in recent months and years. More money
:53:12. > :53:16.there desperately needed. Police money, not come out from the
:53:17. > :53:23.green Deal, but perhaps just the budget two Southern she can perhaps
:53:24. > :53:29.thought Ruth Davidson with. -- taunt Ruth Davidson with.
:53:30. > :53:32.They've spoken to Derek Mackay, the Finance Secretary, not able to give
:53:33. > :53:36.the details in advance, you are triggered them to Parliament this
:53:37. > :53:43.afternoon. We caught up with him at a police station this morning. This
:53:44. > :53:46.is what Derek Mackay had to say. I'm confident that I've reached a
:53:47. > :53:52.deal for the budget that will ensure it passes at all ages. That's good
:53:53. > :53:56.news for taxpayers, the economy, the public services and communities. And
:53:57. > :53:58.of course I will respect Parliament currently at the detail that later
:53:59. > :54:02.today. What more can you tell it as Judge?
:54:03. > :54:06.Looks like the Greens were willing to talk last night, is to deal with
:54:07. > :54:11.the Greens? It is a deal with the Greens, I will
:54:12. > :54:15.lay at that position later today. Is this a higher tax deal? Will be
:54:16. > :54:19.and scholars be having to pay more tax on people south of the border?
:54:20. > :54:25.I look forward to setting at the deal later today.
:54:26. > :54:30.Scottish ministers were Bill is talking about an election, that was
:54:31. > :54:34.a possibility on the cards. Were you threatening the Greens with an
:54:35. > :54:37.election? They certainly did want that.
:54:38. > :54:40.I think Ted is the opposition parties would reckon as I have
:54:41. > :54:46.worked positively and constructively throughout and will make sure we
:54:47. > :54:52.have worked out very, my. This is this is a deal for all three
:54:53. > :54:56.separate parts of the budgets? Video I believe I have secured
:54:57. > :54:59.through every stage of the budget to ensure this budget passes innocent
:55:00. > :55:03.Irish say. Do you think in a future you will be
:55:04. > :55:07.able to rely on the Greens for any future deal that you've got them
:55:08. > :55:11.sewn up for the next five years? The budget is a year-to-year
:55:12. > :55:15.process. This is approval, hopefully, for this year's budget.
:55:16. > :55:21.That was Derek Mackay speaking a short time ago. I joined by Patrick
:55:22. > :55:26.Harvie, co-convenor of the Green Party. Please with the deal?
:55:27. > :55:31.I think it's really important that all opposition parties do their best
:55:32. > :55:35.to make a meaningful difference. The Greens appear to be the only party
:55:36. > :55:40.that's try to do that. When without your Derek Mackay speaking this
:55:41. > :55:43.afternoon, he is going to be able to release the figures, I am not in a
:55:44. > :55:48.position to do that, but Imad regulates we will see a good --
:55:49. > :55:52.meaningful change in investment in public services. Councils all over
:55:53. > :55:56.the country are making plans for cuts, they will be able to shelve
:55:57. > :55:59.those plans and get on with delivering services that all of us
:56:00. > :56:03.depend on. We know it will be more money for
:56:04. > :56:07.local government, I know you can give the details, but more money
:56:08. > :56:10.from a Government? I think we will hear a clear
:56:11. > :56:14.reversal of a substantial amount of what was in the draft budget. Willow
:56:15. > :56:19.see a much bigger investment in local services. That is about
:56:20. > :56:25.ensuring the local council grant goes up. Not that we have a ring
:56:26. > :56:28.fenced funding, with the central Government is telling the councils
:56:29. > :56:31.everything they should be doing. Councils have a right to make
:56:32. > :56:35.decisions about services in their area that people need, not to be
:56:36. > :56:39.forced to make cuts a return central Government cracks the whip. There
:56:40. > :56:45.are rebalanced the investment in services and local control well.
:56:46. > :56:49.Lets talk tax. You wanted big changes, understandably, you had to
:56:50. > :56:52.put them to one side, the SNP have more members than you. I understand
:56:53. > :57:00.there is to be something on the threshold at which one enters the
:57:01. > :57:04.higher rate? 40p rate? I did challenge Derek Mackay, the
:57:05. > :57:08.Finance Secretary, during the committee scrutiny of the budget on
:57:09. > :57:11.white and inflation based higher rate was necessary. That is a
:57:12. > :57:16.smaller tax break to the wealthy than the UK is doing, but stole a
:57:17. > :57:21.tax break to the wealthy. I do not think that is justified. I think we
:57:22. > :57:25.need a long-term move away from the unfair distribution attacks we have
:57:26. > :57:30.at the moment. You're saying this is the start of
:57:31. > :57:35.perhaps increasing the levy upon higher earners and perhaps
:57:36. > :57:40.registrable or errors came back I think we would like to see lower
:57:41. > :57:43.taxes for low and average earners and progressive taxation for the
:57:44. > :57:46.wealthy. Property tax, which is badly valid
:57:47. > :57:50.at the moment, council tax is unfair, not based on real property
:57:51. > :57:54.wealth and income inequalities as well, they need to be reduced. We
:57:55. > :58:00.are now in a period we have a Scottish Parliament and Scottish
:58:01. > :58:04.Government that makes fiscal policy in Scotland. It's no longer
:58:05. > :58:09.appropriate to treat it as we did in the old days of devolution, where
:58:10. > :58:13.Government just works is manifesto over four or five years. We do make
:58:14. > :58:16.tax policy that is responsive to events, that means moving beyond
:58:17. > :58:22.that old era. This is a deal for all stages, one,
:58:23. > :58:26.two and three,? You will see later on this afternoon
:58:27. > :58:29.except that what we said about all of those elements. We need to see
:58:30. > :58:33.amendments which the Government expects to launch a stage two. It is
:58:34. > :58:37.when we see this amendment is passed that we will note the position we
:58:38. > :58:42.are in. Will be voting for the budget at stage one today on the
:58:43. > :58:50.basis of the commitments made. Patrick Harvie, thank you very much
:58:51. > :58:53.indeed. I was able to come back to my journalistic colleagues, moving
:58:54. > :58:57.story there on taxation. Bye-bye for now.
:58:58. > :59:00.To be in the Lords, you have to be punctual...
:59:01. > :59:03.Sometimes you really do literally have to slam the door
:59:04. > :59:08.What right do they have to tell me about my fashion sense?
:59:09. > :59:14.Can you now control your bad language?
:59:15. > :59:16.Yes, I will. Otherwise you'll be, you know, drummed out.
:59:17. > :59:22.To win on something as important as this
:59:23. > :59:25.A unique opportunity to meet the Lords...