02/02/2017: First Minister's Questions Politics Scotland


02/02/2017: First Minister's Questions

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A very warm welcome to the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood. The talk is

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all about money, a deal to secure the Scottish Government's budget,

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securing ?160 million extra for the government. A key demand from the

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Greens. More cash for the police. The upper threshold you enter the

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higher rate of taxation, we have frozen that at 40 3000. Rather than

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rising with inflation this as Scottish Government ministers

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intended. More details on that later. First questions to the First

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Minister. Let's go to the chamber.

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General questions under way, about to move to First Minister's

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Questions. There will also be a busy time down the road in the House of

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Commons, where the Brexit Minister David Davis will make a statement.

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We are expecting the white paper, marking the government's position on

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Brexit negotiations appearing after that at 1:30 p.m.. Will any

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discussion on that filtered through to Holyrood? We will see. We are

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bound to hear something on that budget deal. They will be a debate

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on that. The new positions the Scottish Government has reached

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after negotiation with the Greens. Particularly on local funding will

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be an issue for discussion. We'll be conservatives want to pick up on

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this change on the threshold for income tax? I want to ask you First

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Minister what engagement she has planned for the rest of the day?

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Taking forward the government's programme for Scotland. Does the

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First Minister believe that having higher rates of tax in Scotland sets

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a dangerous precedent for the prospects of economic growth? I have

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been very clear about this. This government will not increase income

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tax rates at a time of rising inflation, a time for pressure on

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how come -- pressure on household incomes. I

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am clear that in the time the Tory austerity, it would be wrong to cut

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taxes for the top 10% of income earners. We will not do that either.

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I am clear about our priorities. Also pretty clear for the Tory

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priorities. Tax cuts for the richest, at the expense of the NHS,

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education and those on low incomes. I cannot believe Ruth Davidson has

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come to talk about tax cuts for the rich after the foundation said it

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just this week about Tory tax policy. I hope she is listening,

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they said Tory tax policy will make the poorest quarter of householders

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up to 15% worse off. And the highest quarter 5% better. They say it will

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be the largest increase in inequality since the days of

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Margaret Thatcher. They said this about raising the higher rate

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threshold, it will do nothing to improve living standards for the

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majority of households. This government is on the side of those

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on low incomes, those of public services. I will like Ruth Davidson,

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or Harrison, whatever she is called, to argue for the rich. You can come

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in a protector of Scottish family's pay packets. I thank the First

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Minister for the answer. I have here then Admiral document that the First

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Minister signed up to. It is called let Scotland flourish. The SNP told

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us that lower taxes would send a message that Scotland is open for

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business. The same SNP wants to put business taxes up. It told us higher

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rates would send the wrong message for indigenous businesses and

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business is coming to Scotland. Now the wrong message is the only

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message. They told us that business tax cuts would protect government

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revenue. Because it would drive economic growth. Now they say the

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opposite is true. They used to get this, why not now? I think Ruth

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Davidson might have missed something. I do believe competitive

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business taxes are important. That is why we have the most competitive

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business rates regime of any country in the United Kingdom. Why the

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budget that will be debated this afternoon will lift 100,000 small

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businesses across this country out of business rates altogether. Let me

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go back to the previous issue, low income households. The truth of the

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matter is that the Tories are the destroyers of the living standards

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of those on low incomes. In case you did not hear me, let me remind her

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of what the Resolution Foundation had to say about Tory tax policies.

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They will make the poorest quarter of householders up to 15% worse off,

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and the highest quarter 5% better. Widening inequality, that is what

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the Tories are doing. This government will tackle inequality,

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and protect public services. That is our priorities. The Resolution

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Foundation found that Tory tax policy reduced inequality by a

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coefficient. Absolutely. The First Minister to days stood there saying

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she understands competitive taxation. She is about to make us

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the highest taxed part of the entire UK. I will tell her who she needs to

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listen to. She needs to listen to business leaders in Scotland. My

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first question quoted from Liz Cameron, the chief executive of the

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Scottish Chambers of commerce. I will quote her most extensively, if

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the First Minister likes quotes, she says people paying high income tax

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and Scotland would create a further barrier to Scottish business

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competitiveness, and harming jobs. She says the sooner that politicians

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realise that supporting economic growth, rather than hiking up taxes

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is the route to increasing revenues, and improving investment in key

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services, the quicker Scotland will prosper. We will vote on the budgets

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in five hours' time. We have been well warned what increasing taxes

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mean for families and businesses. Why is the first step stitching up

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attacks packed with the Greens rather than protecting Scottish jobs

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and business? I'm sure it will be of great comfort to those across the

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country struggling to make ends meet, those who welfare protection

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has been cut by the Tory government in Westminster to know that that

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coefficient is all right. The truth, presiding officer, as far as the

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Tories are concerned, the genie is out of the bottle. They are

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presiding over the biggest increase in inequality since the days of

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Margaret Thatcher. Not my words, the words of the Resolution foundation.

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Let me turn to business taxation, I agree with Liz Cameron about the

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competitiveness of business taxes. That is why this covenant is gimp on

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-- is delivering the most competitive taxation in the UK.

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15,000 businesses lifted out of taxation altogether. Let me turn to

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the impact on householders. The difference between me every Davidson

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is, I don't believe that the time the Tory austerity the priority is

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cutting taxes for the top 10% of earners. In terms of our draft

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budget, the final secretary will outline changes to Parliament this

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afternoon. What we are asking, the highest earners to do, is to forego

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a tax cuts amounting to ?6 a week. That is less than people in England

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paid for a single prescription. In Scotland, of course, taxpayers not

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only get free prescriptions, they get tuition free education, free

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personal care for the elderly, above inflation increases in the NHS.

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Detection of local services, the best deal for taxpayers anywhere in

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the UK. That is what this government is delivering.

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The First Minister seems utterly unconcerned about business impact is

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having for companies across Scotland. We have been speaking to

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companies, one of them is a hotel whose rates are going up by ?15,000.

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They have been faced with a choice, reluctantly putting up charges, or

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going bust. They have been forced to pass charges on. They have had their

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first complaint from a customer paying ?80 to hire a room. Let me

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read it out, the increase in the higher fees is excessive to say the

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least. Should this fee of ?80 apply to future meetings, I will confirm

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there will be no longer any bookings, and our business will be

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taken elsewhere. The name of the customer, the bounce branch of the

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Scottish Nationalist party. If they cannot support policy, isn't it time

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to do something about it? What Ruud Davidson is talking about is an

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independent re-evaluation of business rates. -- roof Davidson. As

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we have outlined, two weeks ago, the final evaluations will be later this

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year. All businesses have an opportunity to appeal if they think

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their value is wrong. Let's get back to the core issue, we have the most

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competitive is this rates regime in the whole of the UK. 100,000 small

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businesses lifted out of business rates altogether. We have a tourism

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sector, thanks to the good work of those in it, it is booming.

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Employment rising much faster than the rest of the UK. The best

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performing part of the UK outside of the south-east of England for inward

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investment. These are the success stories of the Scottish economy, we

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will continue to invest in the success of our economy. We will make

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sure we protect public services, and those on low incomes. That is what

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the budget will deliver, and I am proud to put it forward to this

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parliament later today. The members seem a little excitable ahead of the

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budget. Can I ask members to show respect to each other? I asked the

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First Minister was engagement she has planned for the rest of the

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week? To take thought the government's programme for Scotland.

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In September I asked the First Minister about the number of people

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being referred for mental health treatment, only to have the referral

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rejected. The first minute to express concern, saying she was

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determined to act. Can the First Minister now tell us how many more

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young people have been rejected for mental health treatment since I last

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brought the crisis to the chamber? We continue to invest in improving

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mental health services. I have made it very clear to voices across the

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chamber the priority we attach to that is a government. We have rising

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demand for mental health services, which is something we should

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welcome, meaning the stigma is reducing, more people coming

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forward. Waiting times are producing, more people treated. Not

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just rising investment, but rising numbers of staff. I readily accept

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we have much more work still to do. Not unique in that sense in

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Scotland, many countries experiencing the same challenges. We

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are determined through our new mental health strategy to meet those

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new challenges head-on. The members will have noticed the First Minister

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was unable to answer the question. Let me share the reality. Since the

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First Minister promised to act, there have been another 1600 cases

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of young people rejected for mental health treatment. That takes the

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total to ten and a half thousand cases overall. Thousands and

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thousands of children and young adults in crisis, who have turned to

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professionals for help, only to be turned away. We could reduce the

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number of people needing clinical treatment in the first place.

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School-based counselling is key to that. I came to this chamber with a

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published plan for every secondary school to have access to a

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counsellor. The First Minister said she would look at it. Not asking for

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any new money, just a fraction of the ?150 million the government is

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spending the mental health. We have had the warm words, when will we get

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the action? As she knows, the plans she brought forward are being looked

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at in the context of developing the mental health strategy. That is work

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on going, and I thought she would have welcomed that work and the

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consideration given to those plans. In terms of numbers, lately point

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out that in terms of recent statistics, the number of patients

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seen by services has increased by 21%, we have seen long waits

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reducing, and we have seen the number of patients seen within the

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waiting times also improving. This is progress. It is progress on an

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issue where I have readily accepted and continue to do so, that we need

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to do more work. That is why the ?150 million of extra investment

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backing the mental health strategy is so important. On an issue that is

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so important, I would hope all of us in the chamber would get behind it.

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The First Minister said the government are looking at it,

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considering it as part of the mental health strategy that is interesting,

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that is not what Maureen Watt told the mental health committee. She is

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a provision of councillors in schools was a matter for local

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authorities. How on earth does the First Minister think local

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authorities can do this when they are faced with millions of pounds of

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cuts? The cuts we are faced with voting on this afternoon will make

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it all the harder for schools and other local services to provide the

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help young people need. These cuts will punish kids already in crisis.

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He does not have to be this way. Will the First Minister do the right

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thing, scrapped the cuts and investing Scotland's public services

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instead? Any mental health strategy that will be successful has to

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involve the Scottish Government working not just with the National

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Health Service and local authorities. The fact that

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councillors is a matter for local authorities does not mean it is

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something we will look at as part of the mental health strategy, I would

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think that point would be very obvious. She stands up and talks

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about extra funding for mental health services, but she and her

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colleagues are intending to vote against the budget to date including

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extra commitment to mental health services. -- today. It says involves

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her coming of the leader of the third party coming to the party that

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won the election saying they live and talk to us if we rip up our

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manifesto, and implement bears. It is student politics. That is what

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rendered Labour are relevant, delivering no implements and

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delivering nothing on behalf of the people they are supposed to

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represent. When it comes to budget discussions, Labour should be deeply

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ashamed of themselves. Two constituency questions, the

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first from Claire Baker. Thank you presiding officer. Almost two years

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since the death on the streets of Jacoby. The family still do not know

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what happened that morning in 2015. Now the potential for civil action

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as his family search for answers. Can the First Minister tell us that

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the Crown will reach a conclusion on the report. And an enquiry on to the

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wider deaths in custody. Can she make sure nobody else will have to

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go through that experience? It would not be comedic comment on the

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specifics of the case. The Crown Office has indicated a decision will

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be made as soon as possible. The Lord Advocate is meeting Sheku

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Bayoh's family to discuss the case. The previous Lord Advocate made it

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clear that regardless of the investigation the fatal accident

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enquiry will be heard. This will include public scrutiny into the

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incident. I personally made it clear to the family when I met them I am

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not ruling anything out in terms of white enquiry at an appropriate

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point in the future if that is required. I hope the member will

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agree with me, it is important to allow the processes to take their

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course and conclude. The First Minister will be aware of the report

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from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde setting out cuts of 330 million

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pounds, and the sweet -- sweeping centralisation of

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services. The balance of care has been used as a cover for cuts.

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Specifically the report talks about cutting unscheduled care assessment.

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On that basis, will she guarantee what she promised in the Vale

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vision, that the medical assessment unit will remain in place? Firstly I

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think Jackie Baillie is being slightly misleading in her question.

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Referring to report that was never discussed by Greater Glasgow and

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Clyde health board. The chair of the board said he did not agree with it

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and they did not go forward for discussion. The Health Secretary

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said had such a report gone forward for discussion she would not have

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approved any of the proposals. For Jackie Baillie stand up and try to

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give the impression this is the policy of Glasgow in greater Clyde

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health board is misleading. This government will continue to do were

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discovered has done is from day one in 2007, continuing to do what the

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previous Labour administration failed to do over many years, and

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continue to protect services at the Vale hospital. I Russell First

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Minister when the Cabinet will next meet? With the next meet on Monday.

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It'll be the first of the travelling cabinets year. Everyone in this

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chamber, and this country understands the value of public

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local services to all of our quality-of-life. Over recent weeks,

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councils in this country have been forced to contemplate cuts to a wide

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range of services, unacceptable cuts from bigots class sizes to scrapping

:21:28.:21:34.

public transport. Ignoring late-night noise and vandalism

:21:35.:21:37.

complaints, to scaling back recycling. Removing librarians and

:21:38.:21:44.

specialist support staff from schools, to increasing charges for

:21:45.:21:48.

people burying their relatives. This is not a position that any

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government should leave our councils in. Late last year, under pressure

:21:51.:21:57.

from the Greens and others, the government gave ground on the

:21:58.:22:00.

centralised control of additional council tax revenue, that will be

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available for councils to allocate as they see fit in local

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circumstances. Isn't it clear, presiding Officer, that even if we

:22:11.:22:15.

do see this afternoon a budget concession restoring significant

:22:16.:22:18.

funding to protect local services in every part of Scotland, that is not

:22:19.:22:24.

only essential, but should mark the beginning of a new approach. One in

:22:25.:22:28.

which we invest not only resources, but local control back into the

:22:29.:22:34.

hands of our communities. As the chamber has heard me say before, the

:22:35.:22:39.

draft budget the Finance Secretary outlined to the chamber at the end

:22:40.:22:43.

of last year involved funding, additional funding if councils used

:22:44.:22:52.

council tax powers of ?240 million additional funding for local

:22:53.:22:56.

services. That was a strong draft budget for the protection of local

:22:57.:22:59.

services. What the Finance Secretary also said is that he wanted to

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listen to parties across the chamber and enter into constructive

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discussion about how we could take forward these priorities as well as

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the priorities we have identified. It is fair to say the Conservatives

:23:13.:23:16.

and Labour refused to take part in any meaningful way in that

:23:17.:23:22.

discussion. The Lib Dems at least made the pretence of doing so,

:23:23.:23:27.

whether it was serious I'm not sure. What the budget this afternoon I

:23:28.:23:32.

think will outline is the continued priority to protect local services.

:23:33.:23:38.

Also making clear that those in the chamber prepared to take part in

:23:39.:23:43.

constructive discussions achieve something on behalf of those they

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represent. The hats other parties across the chamber could learn from

:23:48.:23:54.

that. -- perhaps the other parties. I'm sure all of our colleagues look

:23:55.:23:58.

forward to hearing the detail of what is announced this afternoon. I

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can hear how eager they are to hear the details needed now. Can I make a

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further point? Isn't it clear that the Spike Lee

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further progress we will see this afternoon, tax policy, with the new

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powers devolved to the Scottish Parliament can no longer be based

:24:18.:24:21.

for the duration of the parliament on manifesto written years in

:24:22.:24:25.

advance. That was the approach in the first year of devolution, when

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this was just a spending parliament. We now to some extent make fiscal

:24:32.:24:36.

policy in Scotland. It is essential not only to respond to the balance

:24:37.:24:39.

of using parliament, but also events, that we have seen since

:24:40.:24:45.

manifestos were written, the Brexit vote, the fall in the value of the

:24:46.:24:50.

pound, a new UK Government, changes to UK fiscal policy. Isn't it clear

:24:51.:24:55.

that tax policy throughout the parliament cannot be based on

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manifestos written in previous years, and the house to be a living

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debate, one in which we take new directions forward, with new powers

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we have available? I do agree that any responsible government has to

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take account of developments, things happening in the economy, and wider

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society when it comes to budget decisions. The manifesto on which

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this garment was elected was not written years ago, less than one

:25:25.:25:28.

year ago. It is reasonable for this cover to say to the Scottish people

:25:29.:25:32.

we want to seek to implement the promises we made to them. In terms

:25:33.:25:37.

of Patrick Harvie's quite legitimate comments about the impact the

:25:38.:25:42.

Brexit. These impacts cut both ways. On one hand, one of the implications

:25:43.:25:47.

of the Brexit vote, because of the fall in the value of the pound is

:25:48.:25:52.

rising inflation, putting greater pressure on household incomes. That

:25:53.:25:55.

does underline the commitment to discover that not to increase income

:25:56.:26:00.

tax rates in this government. It also puts pressure on public

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services. Which I think underlines the commitment of this government at

:26:05.:26:07.

this time not to give a tax cut to those who earn the most in this

:26:08.:26:11.

country, the top 10% of income earners. The budget which will be

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outlined in this afternoon, strikes the right balance. It does also

:26:18.:26:24.

demonstrates where other parties in this chamber are willing to come

:26:25.:26:27.

forward with constructive suggestions, they will find a

:26:28.:26:31.

government willing to listen. There will be one opposition party in this

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chamber this afternoon that can say to the people they represent that

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they have managed to achieve something. The other opposition

:26:39.:26:43.

parties, and this is a serious point, they have achieved not one

:26:44.:26:48.

single brass penny in this budget for the people they are supposed to

:26:49.:26:52.

be representing. And I think they should be ashamed of that. I asked

:26:53.:27:00.

the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of

:27:01.:27:04.

the Cabinet? Those of the people of Scotland. Once upon a time the First

:27:05.:27:15.

Minister said... Listen carefully, the First Minister said that the

:27:16.:27:21.

police were safe in her hands. Now she says the same about Highlands

:27:22.:27:28.

and Islands enterprise. This week we discovered through Freedom of

:27:29.:27:33.

information that the economy secretary had to be educated about

:27:34.:27:37.

what it does. After he had made the decision to abolish the board.

:27:38.:27:42.

Instead of carrying on regardless, in the dark, can the First Minister

:27:43.:27:48.

announced to date that the board of Highlands and Islands enterprise

:27:49.:27:55.

will not be abolished? Can I thank the Willie Rennie for reminding us

:27:56.:28:00.

at the start of the question that the Lib Dems occupy a fairy tale

:28:01.:28:07.

world? In terms of the police, an important priority for this

:28:08.:28:10.

government, the draft budget outlined before Christmas delivered

:28:11.:28:15.

real terms protection for the resource budget of the police, which

:28:16.:28:21.

we will see over this Parliament. An additional ?1 million going to

:28:22.:28:26.

front-line policing. Who knows? I am only speculating, the Finance

:28:27.:28:30.

Secretary may have more to say on these matters this afternoon. On the

:28:31.:28:35.

question of Highlands and Islands enterprise, I and the economy

:28:36.:28:38.

secretary are on record praising the good work it does. And the

:28:39.:28:42.

determination of this government is reported to continue to do the work.

:28:43.:28:47.

The review under way now is that looking at how we make sure all of

:28:48.:28:52.

our enterprise agencies, working in the area of economic development and

:28:53.:28:56.

skills provision are working together in a coordinated way to

:28:57.:28:59.

deliver maximum impact on our economy. We will continue to allow

:29:00.:29:05.

that process to take its course. The economy secretary was answering

:29:06.:29:14.

about the work and will report back to Parliament on these matters in

:29:15.:29:17.

due course. I think she needs a new joke writer. Another review by one

:29:18.:29:29.

of our quango bosses, no substitute for a vote in this Parliament to

:29:30.:29:38.

project her plans. The former chairman of Highlands and Islands

:29:39.:29:43.

enterprise, Professor Jim Hunter denounced the move is ministerial

:29:44.:29:46.

control free to read. Centralism running riot. He is a member of the

:29:47.:29:54.

SNP. Highlands and Islands enterprise did not ask for this

:29:55.:29:58.

change, local people do not want this change. The democratically

:29:59.:30:02.

elected parliament of this country voted against this change. Yet this

:30:03.:30:08.

government is hell-bent on taking control, running everything from the

:30:09.:30:11.

centre, ignoring the needs of the Highlands and Islands. Why is it

:30:12.:30:18.

that despite all the experience, she is so determined that she knows

:30:19.:30:22.

better than everybody else? I am not sure if Willie Rennie was in the

:30:23.:30:28.

chamber a few moments before first Mr's questions, when Keith Graham

:30:29.:30:32.

was answering questions on the issue. Maybe he was too busy loving

:30:33.:30:36.

himself outside the chamber, to find himself inside of it. If he had...

:30:37.:30:49.

If he had been in the chamber, he would have heard Keith Brown quoting

:30:50.:30:56.

Jim Hunter, and quite some of the representations made not just by Jim

:30:57.:31:02.

Hunter, but by council leaders and MSPs on my own benches doing a good

:31:03.:31:05.

job on behalf of the people they represent. We will continue to

:31:06.:31:09.

listen to those representations, we are in the second phase of review,

:31:10.:31:13.

and we will allow the review to conclude in due course and come back

:31:14.:31:16.

to Parliament and report the findings of that review. That is the

:31:17.:31:20.

appropriate right way to go about things. As we do that we will

:31:21.:31:25.

continue to protect Highlands and Islands catlike enterprise and the

:31:26.:31:32.

ability they do for the people of our Highlands and Islands.

:31:33.:31:40.

Is just the First Minister agree that other spam and agrees to have a

:31:41.:31:47.

referendum on Scotland assessment future then no Westminster Tories

:31:48.:31:54.

should try and stand in their way? If this parliament voted to have a

:31:55.:32:00.

referendum on independence, then absolutely, I agree that no

:32:01.:32:03.

Westminster Tory should stand in the wake of the voice of this

:32:04.:32:08.

Parliament. The mandate of this Government, in relation to this, is

:32:09.:32:13.

unequivocal. It was the Tories, after all, hope that us in the

:32:14.:32:16.

position of being taken out of the European Union against our will, and

:32:17.:32:22.

with the support of only one of the 59 MPs in this country. It's

:32:23.:32:28.

strange, is it not, that a Tory party that proclaims it would be so

:32:29.:32:33.

confident of winning a referendum on independence now talks about trying

:32:34.:32:39.

to block it. Isn't it the case that the Tories are actually running a

:32:40.:32:50.

wee bit scared? To ask the First Minister what

:32:51.:32:53.

representations the Scottish Government has made to the UK

:32:54.:32:58.

Government towards the closure of job centres in Scotland is?

:32:59.:33:02.

I'm very concerned about the announcement by DWP to close up to

:33:03.:33:06.

30 job in the past site in Scotland. The lack of consultation with the

:33:07.:33:11.

communities affected I think is totally unacceptable. These closures

:33:12.:33:15.

will see the people who rely on job centre services travelling further,

:33:16.:33:18.

encouraging increased transport costs and increased risk of benefit

:33:19.:33:25.

sanctions. It's important the Government reconsiders this

:33:26.:33:31.

approach. Clarification has been sought on the impact on the people

:33:32.:33:34.

who use job centres and the people who rely on these vital services

:33:35.:33:41.

will stop in a recent debate I brought strong cross-party support

:33:42.:33:46.

to save my local Job Centre of Maryhill in Glasgow.

:33:47.:33:52.

The Conservatives refuse to, and I quote, condone or condemn the

:33:53.:33:56.

closures. One of the closures was an Ruth Davidson's own Edinburgh

:33:57.:34:00.

constituency. Just a First Minister agree with me that it is time for

:34:01.:34:04.

all MSPs in this place, including Ruth Davidson, unite in condemning

:34:05.:34:11.

the closure of the job centre plus offices until there is full

:34:12.:34:14.

consultation with the communities affected, as well as ensuring Phil

:34:15.:34:20.

impact assessments carried out. Let's defend our constituents.

:34:21.:34:27.

I do agree that it is important for all MSPs across the chamber to unite

:34:28.:34:32.

to convince Westminster to reconsider their approach. And to

:34:33.:34:38.

consult all the committees affected by the closure of what our local

:34:39.:34:42.

services. The Scottish garment is taking a lead on this, and I know

:34:43.:34:47.

Bob Doris and others have taken a key role in opposing closures in

:34:48.:34:52.

Glasgow and other places. I think it is unfortunate that Tory MSPs are

:34:53.:34:57.

declining to stand up and be counted on this issue that is so important

:34:58.:34:59.

to Glasgow and other parts of Scotland. Equally unfortunate that

:35:00.:35:04.

Ruth Davidson herself has declined to stand up for vulnerable people in

:35:05.:35:08.

her own constituency that might be affected by these closures. Having

:35:09.:35:12.

it's time for all of us across this chamber to say to the UK Government

:35:13.:35:16.

that these closures are wrong, they will harm vulnerable people, and

:35:17.:35:20.

these proposals must be urgently reconsidered.

:35:21.:35:28.

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's responses to

:35:29.:35:32.

the auditor general's comments regarding Police Scotland, and the

:35:33.:35:36.

lack of progress made in demonstrating a financial leadership

:35:37.:35:40.

is unacceptable for any financial -- public body.

:35:41.:35:48.

The Scottish police's accounts have been signed off unqualified. The

:35:49.:35:55.

response to the audit is that Police Scotland have taken steps to improve

:35:56.:35:59.

both financial leadership and management, but these have not yet

:36:00.:36:02.

have a chance to have an impact. The steps include appointing a director

:36:03.:36:06.

of corporate services, strategy and change, and a chief financial

:36:07.:36:12.

officer to provide strategical leadership on all financial matters.

:36:13.:36:16.

This post will soon be filled permanently.

:36:17.:36:18.

I thank the first most of that response. Just five months ago she

:36:19.:36:23.

said, I don't think the single force is in crisis. In response to the

:36:24.:36:27.

auditor General, seven days ago, senior SNP is MSP Alex Neil said the

:36:28.:36:34.

organisation is in crisis. Who should we believe?

:36:35.:36:39.

The police service is not an crisis, on the contrary, it is doing a

:36:40.:36:43.

fantastic job the length and breadth of this country. Having it's

:36:44.:36:47.

incumbent on all of us to get behind them. It is a sign of the importance

:36:48.:36:52.

this Government attaches to the work of the police that the draft budget

:36:53.:36:58.

did protect in real terms the police budgets, over the lifetime of this

:36:59.:37:02.

parliament that will mean ?100 million more going into front-line

:37:03.:37:06.

services, and Derek Mackay will present any changes to that later

:37:07.:37:10.

this afternoon. Will continue to support the fantastic work of our

:37:11.:37:14.

police force -- officers, because they do a fantastic job in keeping

:37:15.:37:19.

each and every one of us safe. To as the First Minister how many

:37:20.:37:24.

refugees the Scottish Government expects to welcome in 2017?

:37:25.:37:31.

Scotland has already received around 1300 refugees under the Syrian

:37:32.:37:34.

refugee resettlement programme, and refugees continue to arrive. The

:37:35.:37:39.

arrival of refugees is dependent on many factors, including assessment

:37:40.:37:42.

and screening by direct eg agency and Home Office. The matching of

:37:43.:37:50.

logistical matters such as flight, travel documents and visas. For

:37:51.:37:54.

those reasons, I can't get a figure of the exact number of people who

:37:55.:37:58.

will arrive this year. However, I can say that Scotland will continue

:37:59.:38:02.

to be a country which welcomes those seeking refuge from war and

:38:03.:38:06.

persecution, and we're committed to welcoming as many as we can of those

:38:07.:38:13.

arriving in the UK in 2017. In a little over two weeks,

:38:14.:38:18.

President Trump has defended torture, banned US aid to

:38:19.:38:23.

organisations providing health care to women in developing countries,

:38:24.:38:28.

insulted dues on map Holocaust Memorial Day. He has opposed an

:38:29.:38:36.

outright ban on Syrian refugees. At the same time, held hands with

:38:37.:38:41.

Theresa May. Many these actions are designed to incite hatred and create

:38:42.:38:45.

division. Whether First Minister join me in saying that, while we

:38:46.:38:49.

can't be complacent about acts of hatred and prejudice, we should

:38:50.:38:53.

recognise the 1.8 million people across the UK has signed a petition

:38:54.:38:57.

to withdraw the red carpet from President Trump, and also paid

:38:58.:39:02.

tribute to all this people, right across the world, irrespective of

:39:03.:39:06.

their faith, colour, other nationality, there are join together

:39:07.:39:13.

to say we support humanity entered as its forms.

:39:14.:39:19.

Yes, I do endorse those comments. I disagree deeply and profoundly with

:39:20.:39:25.

the executive orders issued by President Trump last week, banning

:39:26.:39:31.

Syrian refugees and also imposing a travel ban on people from seven

:39:32.:39:36.

Muslim-majority countries across the world. Banning people, or even

:39:37.:39:42.

giving the perception that people are being banned on the basis of

:39:43.:39:47.

their faith, religion or origin is profoundly, in my view, morally

:39:48.:39:52.

wrong. I think all of that asset should stand up and say that. I have

:39:53.:39:57.

already made my views clear about how inappropriate I believe it would

:39:58.:40:00.

be to allow a state visit to proceed while these bands are in place, and

:40:01.:40:04.

I would hope the UK Government will think again on this. Indeed, I had

:40:05.:40:09.

the opportunity to express these views directly to the primers to

:40:10.:40:13.

when I met her in Cardiff on Monday. The last thing I will say is this,

:40:14.:40:17.

people around the world have expressed horror at these policies,

:40:18.:40:22.

and we all have a duty on matters as fundamentally important as these to

:40:23.:40:26.

speak out, speak up and oppose where that is Mrs vary. I think we're

:40:27.:40:32.

under irradiated to do more than that, all of us have to lead by

:40:33.:40:38.

example for the world we want to live in. Scotland is a road have a

:40:39.:40:43.

small country, but I think in the actions we have our day taken in

:40:44.:40:46.

accepting Syrian refugees, the actions we continue to take to give

:40:47.:40:51.

refuge to those fleeing war and persecution, we can demonstrate

:40:52.:40:53.

through our actions the kind of world we want to live in. So, yes,

:40:54.:41:00.

let's oppose, but let also lead by example, and I want Scotland to

:41:01.:41:08.

always do that. To ask the First Minister what

:41:09.:41:12.

action the Scottish Government is taking to support people who have

:41:13.:41:16.

been newly diagnosed with dementia? We will soon publish our new

:41:17.:41:20.

dementia strategy which will outline a range of actions will undertake to

:41:21.:41:26.

improve the delivery of dementia services. We also wish to improve

:41:27.:41:30.

access for people with a new diagnosis of dementia to be provided

:41:31.:41:35.

diagnostic support from an appropriate link worker.

:41:36.:41:39.

The First Minister may be aware that recent figures show that out of all

:41:40.:41:45.

those newly diagnosed with dementia, only two in five patients receive

:41:46.:41:52.

months of post I must support. Given the delivery plan says all people

:41:53.:41:58.

newly diagnosed should receive such support by 2015-16, dishy except her

:41:59.:42:02.

Government hasn't done nearly enough to ensure this target has been met?

:42:03.:42:09.

I agree we have more to do. In terms of the commitments we get around

:42:10.:42:15.

dementia, diagnosis generally, but also post I must it support, we are

:42:16.:42:19.

ahead of many countries around the world, and I think it is important

:42:20.:42:23.

to recognise that. Most people are getting oppose diagnostic support

:42:24.:42:26.

would not have been getting it at all unless we had set a very clear

:42:27.:42:29.

commitment around that. I was Health Secretary will be said that

:42:30.:42:32.

commitment, I know exactly how important matters. The figures the

:42:33.:42:36.

member has cited to underline the fact that we have more to do.

:42:37.:42:42.

Similar comments were made earlier in relation to mental health. We

:42:43.:42:47.

with the changing demographics in western society, more and more

:42:48.:42:49.

people are going to be living longer, that means more and more

:42:50.:42:54.

people are going to be living with dementia. This has applications for

:42:55.:42:58.

all aspects of our society, and it is vital that we get it right, that

:42:59.:43:02.

is what this Government is determined to do.

:43:03.:43:07.

May I ask the First Minister if she recognises the very particular

:43:08.:43:12.

issues that come to a family when there is a diagnosis of early-onset

:43:13.:43:16.

dementia, when sometimes there are still children in the home, people

:43:17.:43:21.

can still be of working age, it has a very particular difficulties. Then

:43:22.:43:24.

she let me know whether there are plans to improve data collection on

:43:25.:43:29.

this, so provision can be made. And recognition across potatoes

:43:30.:43:33.

departments of Government that, in these particular cases, very special

:43:34.:43:37.

attention has to be paid? I think it is right to raise the

:43:38.:43:46.

issue of early-onset dementia. The diagnosis for anyone at any stage in

:43:47.:43:50.

their life is a devastating one. Article issues are raised around

:43:51.:43:53.

those diagnosed with dementia at a younger age, even greater

:43:54.:43:59.

implications for family, for example. The data is important here.

:44:00.:44:07.

Last year, health Scotland published data and recommendations on

:44:08.:44:11.

approving services were under 65 is. Better information for employers and

:44:12.:44:14.

more age-appropriate services, and we will continue to consider the

:44:15.:44:19.

recommendations as part of the next dementia strategy. We're also taking

:44:20.:44:24.

action for those under the age of 65, focusing on key areas including

:44:25.:44:32.

the fact that networks are as strong as possible. And also help with

:44:33.:44:35.

financial issues that can impact on these particular care groups. So

:44:36.:44:40.

does this is important. But it is also right to talk about the

:44:41.:44:43.

importance of data so we know attack with the challenge we're dealing

:44:44.:44:48.

with and how best to deal with that. Desmond exactly the challenge.

:44:49.:44:53.

Figures on post diagnostic support sure there is a huge gap between the

:44:54.:44:58.

Scottish Durham's pledge of support and a real experiences the people

:44:59.:45:03.

have. Given that social care partnerships are ready struggling to

:45:04.:45:08.

meet the Scottish Government's guaranteed, and local boys will have

:45:09.:45:14.

to meet additional 40 funding shortfalls, where is the guarantee

:45:15.:45:16.

that everyone with a new diagnosis of dementia will receive a minimum

:45:17.:45:21.

of one year post I support? As well as the above-inflation

:45:22.:45:27.

increase we are committed to delivering for the National Health

:45:28.:45:30.

Service, the member will be aware that we are committed to make sure

:45:31.:45:36.

that funding goes into the health service that he talks about. Last

:45:37.:45:41.

year it was ?250 million, this year an additional ?107 million will go

:45:42.:45:45.

in. That is part of the funding commitments that Voyager services

:45:46.:45:52.

such as these can be delivered. I said this in part in a previous and

:45:53.:45:56.

Sir, this commitment is really important. It is a commitment that

:45:57.:46:00.

doesn't exist in many other countries. We were one of the first

:46:01.:46:04.

countries to get this commitment to post diagnostic support. And, yes,

:46:05.:46:09.

we have made progress in delivering that, but we have more progress to

:46:10.:46:13.

make. I do think it's important that we don't shy away from giving these

:46:14.:46:17.

ground-breaking commitments, because it may be difficult to deliver them.

:46:18.:46:22.

I'd rather we'll working towards that as we are doing with the

:46:23.:46:26.

funding strategy necessary to deliver it, and that's what we will

:46:27.:46:30.

keep focused on. That includes First Minister's

:46:31.:46:32.

Questions. STUDIO: An eclectic mix, but

:46:33.:46:37.

dominated by exchanges of the budget.

:46:38.:46:42.

We'll get a statement later on the Budget Bill stage one. We'll go to

:46:43.:46:49.

the budget later, but that question from Tom Arthur, he was talking

:46:50.:46:53.

about the remarks by Michael Farren in the Herald and also on good

:46:54.:46:59.

morning Scotland this morning. Michael Fallon the Defence

:47:00.:47:05.

Secretary's in Scotland today, there's bit of a Tory Government

:47:06.:47:09.

love bombing going on, because Chris Grayling is here as well. Ahead of

:47:10.:47:13.

his arrival today, Michael Fallon had said effectively the UK

:47:14.:47:20.

Government would block any second independence referendum.

:47:21.:47:23.

He was asked that facilitated, he said, forget it.

:47:24.:47:30.

You can imagine he received a phone call from rove -- Ruth Davidson,

:47:31.:47:37.

because this is not the sort of message the tourist descending out.

:47:38.:47:40.

He went on to track good morning Scotland, giving a more new songs --

:47:41.:47:45.

new one statement, saying that the Government should be getting on with

:47:46.:47:52.

the business of domestic policy. What did you make of it? Nicola

:47:53.:47:57.

Sturgeon saw a chance there, didn't she?

:47:58.:48:00.

Shoot dead. Talking like getting on with the day job, that's what

:48:01.:48:04.

Michael Fallon wants the Scottish Government today, but know they can

:48:05.:48:07.

surely turn back and say the same thing to him. He shouldn't be coming

:48:08.:48:11.

up to Scotland saying, you know what, at the Scottish Parliament

:48:12.:48:14.

votes for another referendum, we're not go into give it to you. He's got

:48:15.:48:19.

straight on his job. Did he mean that, or did he mean,

:48:20.:48:30.

don't do it, it's not a good idea. The demeanour veto, or it's not a

:48:31.:48:32.

good scheme? And think what he meant when he

:48:33.:48:35.

mentioned the veto is what a lot of Tories in London think is that

:48:36.:48:38.

Nicola Sturgeon is bluffing. Repeatedly, she has said she is not.

:48:39.:48:43.

I don't think she is bluffing, there is a question about timing and

:48:44.:48:46.

whether not she's getting the right level of public support. He's

:48:47.:48:50.

probably channelling a response and I shall reaction from Tories in

:48:51.:48:55.

London. The key issue is that a definitely doesn't think it's and

:48:56.:48:58.

intelligent thing to happen. Let's turn to the budget, the

:48:59.:49:04.

subject of stage one today. We reckon it's a deal with the Greens,

:49:05.:49:10.

money on Government services and freezing the threshold of other 40lb

:49:11.:49:18.

tax rate as was intended. The Tories jumped on that, that is a point

:49:19.:49:22.

about tax. Ruth Davidson making it very clear

:49:23.:49:25.

that the Tories would support the budget. They say it will make

:49:26.:49:30.

Scotland their highest-taxed part of the UK. And Ruth Davidson rebranded

:49:31.:49:35.

herself as the protector of Scotland's pay packets.

:49:36.:49:39.

Woody you make of it? The irony is that Michael Fallon

:49:40.:49:44.

urged Nicola Sturgeon to get on with the day job, and that's that I watch

:49:45.:49:47.

she's doing today. She will deliver with the Scottish Greens something

:49:48.:49:50.

of eight political coup, something that will pay very well with her

:49:51.:49:56.

base, it will counterpoint with Tories want to cut taxes.

:49:57.:50:02.

She is adamant it's not an increased, it's just not taking the

:50:03.:50:06.

cuts that will tate other the border.

:50:07.:50:09.

She's also adamant she is not raising the raids.

:50:10.:50:15.

In the sense, she is getting the best of both worlds. She's still

:50:16.:50:19.

freezing the current rate, which means the people that are on the

:50:20.:50:23.

higher band will be paying more tax than anywhere else in the UK. With

:50:24.:50:27.

inflation, they will still be putting more into the Scottish

:50:28.:50:32.

Government's coppers. That means she can spend it on politically

:50:33.:50:37.

attractive policies which allow higher to then throw back at the

:50:38.:50:40.

Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats in, we are putting money

:50:41.:50:44.

back into public services, we are doing what you demanded, but you

:50:45.:50:49.

haven't helped us do it. The point previously has been that

:50:50.:50:56.

the cuts in the governments, this ain't no, if you include services

:50:57.:51:00.

including going to schools, it's and increase. There's a lot a concession

:51:01.:51:06.

that was wrong in the first place? It could be seen as that. It aims to

:51:07.:51:13.

Greens have got about a extra for local governments, and that's about

:51:14.:51:17.

half the money that Labour says has been cut from councils, quite a

:51:18.:51:20.

significant concession of the Greens to win. It is telling that Nicola

:51:21.:51:26.

Sturgeon pointedly told the other opposition parties in the chamber,

:51:27.:51:29.

look at what happens when you deal with the Government.

:51:30.:51:33.

She relate hammock that Homer. You can have a deal or, what is it you

:51:34.:51:38.

always say, moaning on the sidelines?

:51:39.:51:42.

There are a two crucial elements of this deal today, firstly, this now

:51:43.:51:49.

times the Scottish Greens in with the SNP as a pro-independent

:51:50.:51:52.

coalition in the Scottish Parliament. This means the Scottish

:51:53.:51:55.

Greens are now more likely to start helping Nicola Sturgeon's Government

:51:56.:51:59.

on issues like motion rejecting the Article 50 bill in the UK

:52:00.:52:03.

Parliament. It increases the chances of the Scottish Greens of publicly

:52:04.:52:08.

supporting an independent Referendum Bill. And for the Greens in means

:52:09.:52:13.

that when they go into it may's local government elections, they can

:52:14.:52:16.

point in lots of SNP voters who may get them a second or third vote in

:52:17.:52:20.

multi-member wards. That was there concern, who is them

:52:21.:52:29.

most concerned of an all action? That many other supporters may be

:52:30.:52:32.

nationalists? Patrick Harvie needs to bind in

:52:33.:52:37.

pro-independence voters in order to perpetuate meaningful help to get

:52:38.:52:43.

Green councillors through the May elections.

:52:44.:52:47.

Necklace Turgeon heading more money for the police, but that doesn't

:52:48.:52:50.

appear to be part of the deal with the Greens, that appears to be

:52:51.:52:53.

separate in the changes to the budget.

:52:54.:52:56.

This is something else that came open questions, the problem is that

:52:57.:52:59.

Polly Scotland has been having. Ongoing problems with funding, a

:53:00.:53:05.

funding black hole that has grown in recent months and years. More money

:53:06.:53:11.

there desperately needed. Police money, not come out from the

:53:12.:53:16.

green Deal, but perhaps just the budget two Southern she can perhaps

:53:17.:53:23.

thought Ruth Davidson with. -- taunt Ruth Davidson with.

:53:24.:53:29.

They've spoken to Derek Mackay, the Finance Secretary, not able to give

:53:30.:53:32.

the details in advance, you are triggered them to Parliament this

:53:33.:53:36.

afternoon. We caught up with him at a police station this morning. This

:53:37.:53:43.

is what Derek Mackay had to say. I'm confident that I've reached a

:53:44.:53:46.

deal for the budget that will ensure it passes at all ages. That's good

:53:47.:53:52.

news for taxpayers, the economy, the public services and communities. And

:53:53.:53:56.

of course I will respect Parliament currently at the detail that later

:53:57.:53:58.

today. What more can you tell it as Judge?

:53:59.:54:02.

Looks like the Greens were willing to talk last night, is to deal with

:54:03.:54:06.

the Greens? It is a deal with the Greens, I will

:54:07.:54:11.

lay at that position later today. Is this a higher tax deal? Will be

:54:12.:54:15.

and scholars be having to pay more tax on people south of the border?

:54:16.:54:19.

I look forward to setting at the deal later today.

:54:20.:54:25.

Scottish ministers were Bill is talking about an election, that was

:54:26.:54:30.

a possibility on the cards. Were you threatening the Greens with an

:54:31.:54:34.

election? They certainly did want that.

:54:35.:54:37.

I think Ted is the opposition parties would reckon as I have

:54:38.:54:40.

worked positively and constructively throughout and will make sure we

:54:41.:54:46.

have worked out very, my. This is this is a deal for all three

:54:47.:54:52.

separate parts of the budgets? Video I believe I have secured

:54:53.:54:56.

through every stage of the budget to ensure this budget passes innocent

:54:57.:54:59.

Irish say. Do you think in a future you will be

:55:00.:55:03.

able to rely on the Greens for any future deal that you've got them

:55:04.:55:07.

sewn up for the next five years? The budget is a year-to-year

:55:08.:55:11.

process. This is approval, hopefully, for this year's budget.

:55:12.:55:15.

That was Derek Mackay speaking a short time ago. I joined by Patrick

:55:16.:55:21.

Harvie, co-convenor of the Green Party. Please with the deal?

:55:22.:55:26.

I think it's really important that all opposition parties do their best

:55:27.:55:31.

to make a meaningful difference. The Greens appear to be the only party

:55:32.:55:35.

that's try to do that. When without your Derek Mackay speaking this

:55:36.:55:40.

afternoon, he is going to be able to release the figures, I am not in a

:55:41.:55:43.

position to do that, but Imad regulates we will see a good --

:55:44.:55:48.

meaningful change in investment in public services. Councils all over

:55:49.:55:52.

the country are making plans for cuts, they will be able to shelve

:55:53.:55:56.

those plans and get on with delivering services that all of us

:55:57.:55:59.

depend on. We know it will be more money for

:56:00.:56:03.

local government, I know you can give the details, but more money

:56:04.:56:07.

from a Government? I think we will hear a clear

:56:08.:56:10.

reversal of a substantial amount of what was in the draft budget. Willow

:56:11.:56:14.

see a much bigger investment in local services. That is about

:56:15.:56:19.

ensuring the local council grant goes up. Not that we have a ring

:56:20.:56:25.

fenced funding, with the central Government is telling the councils

:56:26.:56:28.

everything they should be doing. Councils have a right to make

:56:29.:56:31.

decisions about services in their area that people need, not to be

:56:32.:56:35.

forced to make cuts a return central Government cracks the whip. There

:56:36.:56:39.

are rebalanced the investment in services and local control well.

:56:40.:56:45.

Lets talk tax. You wanted big changes, understandably, you had to

:56:46.:56:49.

put them to one side, the SNP have more members than you. I understand

:56:50.:56:52.

there is to be something on the threshold at which one enters the

:56:53.:57:00.

higher rate? 40p rate? I did challenge Derek Mackay, the

:57:01.:57:04.

Finance Secretary, during the committee scrutiny of the budget on

:57:05.:57:08.

white and inflation based higher rate was necessary. That is a

:57:09.:57:11.

smaller tax break to the wealthy than the UK is doing, but stole a

:57:12.:57:16.

tax break to the wealthy. I do not think that is justified. I think we

:57:17.:57:21.

need a long-term move away from the unfair distribution attacks we have

:57:22.:57:25.

at the moment. You're saying this is the start of

:57:26.:57:30.

perhaps increasing the levy upon higher earners and perhaps

:57:31.:57:35.

registrable or errors came back I think we would like to see lower

:57:36.:57:40.

taxes for low and average earners and progressive taxation for the

:57:41.:57:43.

wealthy. Property tax, which is badly valid

:57:44.:57:46.

at the moment, council tax is unfair, not based on real property

:57:47.:57:50.

wealth and income inequalities as well, they need to be reduced. We

:57:51.:57:54.

are now in a period we have a Scottish Parliament and Scottish

:57:55.:58:00.

Government that makes fiscal policy in Scotland. It's no longer

:58:01.:58:04.

appropriate to treat it as we did in the old days of devolution, where

:58:05.:58:09.

Government just works is manifesto over four or five years. We do make

:58:10.:58:13.

tax policy that is responsive to events, that means moving beyond

:58:14.:58:16.

that old era. This is a deal for all stages, one,

:58:17.:58:22.

two and three,? You will see later on this afternoon

:58:23.:58:26.

except that what we said about all of those elements. We need to see

:58:27.:58:29.

amendments which the Government expects to launch a stage two. It is

:58:30.:58:33.

when we see this amendment is passed that we will note the position we

:58:34.:58:37.

are in. Will be voting for the budget at stage one today on the

:58:38.:58:42.

basis of the commitments made. Patrick Harvie, thank you very much

:58:43.:58:50.

indeed. I was able to come back to my journalistic colleagues, moving

:58:51.:58:53.

story there on taxation. Bye-bye for now.

:58:54.:58:57.

To be in the Lords, you have to be punctual...

:58:58.:59:00.

Sometimes you really do literally have to slam the door

:59:01.:59:03.

What right do they have to tell me about my fashion sense?

:59:04.:59:08.

Can you now control your bad language?

:59:09.:59:14.

Yes, I will. Otherwise you'll be, you know, drummed out.

:59:15.:59:16.

To win on something as important as this

:59:17.:59:22.

A unique opportunity to meet the Lords...

:59:23.:59:25.

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