0:00:17 > 0:00:24Hello and are very warm welcome, we are here at the Scottish parliament,
0:00:24 > 0:00:28its question to the First Minister. Lots happening at this big birthday
0:00:28 > 0:00:33for Richard Leonard, new leader of the Labour Party, to have a shot at
0:00:33 > 0:00:38asking question. His predecessor Kezia Dugdale finally enters the
0:00:38 > 0:00:43jungles about, and the small matter of the UK budget still to be
0:00:43 > 0:00:47digested after yesterday's statement. It will be elements of
0:00:47 > 0:00:52that will make up in question, who knows? That cross to the chamber.
0:00:52 > 0:00:59That Annabelle Ewing, Minister in charge of the Fire Service in
0:00:59 > 0:01:05Scotland, responding to a question from Labour, tied into a protest by
0:01:05 > 0:01:08Fire Brigade union representatives outside Holyrood just before First
0:01:08 > 0:01:13Minister's Questions. It's now getting under way.May I take this
0:01:13 > 0:01:18opportunity to welcome Richard Leonard to his post. But despite our
0:01:18 > 0:01:20differences between parties, leadership is a privileged and can
0:01:20 > 0:01:30be a joy, so I wish him well. Moving to substantive matters... Can I ask
0:01:30 > 0:01:37the First Minister, is her Scottish growth scheme a con?Let me take the
0:01:37 > 0:01:41opportunity to congratulate Richard Leonard on his election as leader in
0:01:41 > 0:01:47Labour in Scotland I look forward to his exchange is taking place in a
0:01:47 > 0:01:56few minutes' time. This was established or announcement was made
0:01:56 > 0:02:00last year. Work has been done to establish that sense, and to the
0:02:00 > 0:02:03different strands of the growth scheme, we intend to see company
0:02:03 > 0:02:07supported in the very near future. Of course we want to go further, we
0:02:07 > 0:02:10have now and as an intention to establish a Scottish national
0:02:10 > 0:02:15investment bank to provide long-term patient capital for Scottish
0:02:15 > 0:02:19businesses and support the strategic development of the Scottish economy,
0:02:19 > 0:02:23from the old Hope MSPs across the chamber will support.Thank you for
0:02:23 > 0:02:29her answer. The reason I asked was because in a polymer to answer a few
0:02:29 > 0:02:33weeks ago, the Scottish Government confirmed that the first 50 million
0:02:33 > 0:02:36of this fund will come from financial transactions budget. That
0:02:36 > 0:02:40is a method of funding that was yesterday described by the finance
0:02:40 > 0:02:46secretary as a con. But of course, when the First Minister announced
0:02:46 > 0:02:49the road scheme last year, she's different land grid. She said this
0:02:49 > 0:02:56is a half billion pound vote of confidence in Scottish workers and
0:02:56 > 0:02:59the Scottish economy. Like everyone else in the chamber, I would welcome
0:02:59 > 0:03:04half £1 billion of investment in the Scottish economy if any pennies were
0:03:04 > 0:03:08to appear soon. But I'm curious as to whether the First Minister can
0:03:08 > 0:03:11explain why the Scottish Government uses this method but to invest in
0:03:11 > 0:03:15Scotland, is a vote of confidence, but whether UK Government does, it a
0:03:15 > 0:03:23con?Let me explain exactly why the Chancellor of the Exchequer's
0:03:23 > 0:03:29Knutsford in the budget yesterday, is accurately described as a con. I
0:03:29 > 0:03:35was watching, he stood up and he said without qualification, that his
0:03:35 > 0:03:40budget would deliver an extra £2 billion for Scotland. He is what the
0:03:40 > 0:03:48Fraser of Allender institution said yesterday, £1.1 billion of that in
0:03:48 > 0:03:53the form of financial transactions, cannot be used to support day to day
0:03:53 > 0:03:58spending on public services. So the Chancellor tried to give the
0:03:58 > 0:04:03impression that this was somehow a big boost to the health service, the
0:04:03 > 0:04:05education system, to public services, the length and breadth of
0:04:05 > 0:04:10the country. As Ruth Davidson knows, that is far from beetroot. The
0:04:10 > 0:04:17reality following budget yesterday is this, according to the same
0:04:17 > 0:04:21Institute, Scotland is facing a real terms cut in the day to day budget
0:04:21 > 0:04:27in the next year of more than £200 million, more than £500 million over
0:04:27 > 0:04:35the next two years. If Ruth Davidson is prepared to stand up in this
0:04:35 > 0:04:39chamber today, and somehow argue that that is a good deal. And, then
0:04:39 > 0:04:43Ruth Davidson is even more of a party stewed for a Westminster
0:04:43 > 0:04:53masters then I thought she was. -- party stooge.We usually hear from
0:04:53 > 0:04:56the S and P that they are not getting enough money, now we have a
0:04:56 > 0:05:03new one, the wrong kind of money that they are being given -- SNP.
0:05:03 > 0:05:08Housing? No thank you, money to tackle fuel poverty? How the day.
0:05:08 > 0:05:19Only this First Minister could be handed an extra £2 billion in
0:05:19 > 0:05:19spending power and still sound like someone has stolen her scorn. Since
0:05:19 > 0:05:25you spend less time complaining about the money and thinking more
0:05:25 > 0:05:31about the positives she can do with it?If I was a Tory these days, I
0:05:31 > 0:05:35would not be standing up here talking about scones given the
0:05:35 > 0:05:40amount of money is jab families forced
0:05:40 > 0:05:45amount of money is jab families because of the Tory government. --
0:05:45 > 0:05:52use food banks. Here is another factor at the so-called largest
0:05:52 > 0:05:53award Scotland of the Chancellor. Not only can these financial
0:05:53 > 0:05:59transactions in the Word of the Institute, spent on day two days
0:05:59 > 0:06:04bonding an public services, this has to be repaid by the Scottish
0:06:04 > 0:06:09Government to the UK Government. Let's just cut to the chase. I know
0:06:09 > 0:06:18that Ruth Davidson desperately wants to somehow pretend that yesterday's
0:06:18 > 0:06:18but it was a great deal. But let me get back to the central point here,
0:06:18 > 0:06:21this is the central point. It is the point that Ruth Davidson has to
0:06:21 > 0:06:26address and I invite her to do so. After the budget yesterday and even
0:06:26 > 0:06:29if everything Ruth Davidson is saying about the budget yesterday is
0:06:29 > 0:06:43true, after all about, is taken into account, the result
0:06:47 > 0:06:47account, the result of day-to-day spending result of the government
0:06:47 > 0:06:48with £200 million less in real terms. I invite Ruth Davidson to
0:06:48 > 0:06:49stand up here when she next gets too heavy and tell us where do you think
0:06:49 > 0:07:02we should take that you pounds from God about the NHS, education or
0:07:02 > 0:07:03where does she think these Tory cuts
0:07:03 > 0:07:04The First Minister is standing there telling us that she is being short
0:07:04 > 0:07:09changed. Some of us think that an extra £2 billion more than she woke
0:07:09 > 0:07:14up with yesterday morning is quite a bit of extra change to have. That
0:07:14 > 0:07:17money is available now for the Scottish Government ahead of its
0:07:17 > 0:07:26budget next month. And she faces a test. At the election, she telling
0:07:26 > 0:07:31stick together we promised to raise the allowance to make sure it
0:07:31 > 0:07:38doesn't increase in tax. Yesterday that was delivered. The SNP promised
0:07:38 > 0:07:48to protect the basic rate of income, and they are now hiking it. -- rate
0:07:48 > 0:07:52of income tax. We keep our promises and she breaks hers.Ruth Davidson
0:07:52 > 0:07:57does not want to take my word for what the budget means for spending
0:07:57 > 0:08:01in Scotland. I will now read word for word from the plug published
0:08:01 > 0:08:06yesterday by the Fraser of Allender Institute. I see no pity this
0:08:06 > 0:08:14chamber will question the finding. I quote, the Scottish Government
0:08:14 > 0:08:23resource Grant remains to fall over the next 2-mac radio. By 2019, the
0:08:23 > 0:08:29next block grant will be lower than in 2017. Over the next two years,
0:08:29 > 0:08:34£500 million have been caught by the Tory government and Ruth Davidson
0:08:34 > 0:08:38has the nerve to stand here and save the Tories are doing us and had a
0:08:38 > 0:08:42favour. As we conclude, our deliberations over our budget over
0:08:42 > 0:08:46the next few weeks, we will consider how we protect our public services
0:08:46 > 0:08:51in the face of those cuts. How we protect vulnerable families, say
0:08:51 > 0:08:56many of whom are being forced into poverty and the food banks by this
0:08:56 > 0:08:59Tory government, and how we continue to make investment in the
0:08:59 > 0:09:03infrastructure and support that our businesses need to use thrive and
0:09:03 > 0:09:06grow the economy. We will take decisions that are in the interests
0:09:06 > 0:09:10of the people of Scotland, while the Tories continue to impose cuts on
0:09:10 > 0:09:15the people of Scotland.
0:09:17 > 0:09:22Richard Leonard. Question number two.
0:09:26 > 0:09:31Providing officer, this morning I had the honour of addressing a rally
0:09:31 > 0:09:33of firefighters from right across Scotland who are lobbying this
0:09:33 > 0:09:38Parliament today. He's courageous women and men put their lives on the
0:09:38 > 0:09:46line to give the rest of us safe. But since gotten's Fire and Rescue
0:09:46 > 0:09:51Service centralise, these heroic firefighters have seen over front
0:09:51 > 0:09:55line jobs axed. They have watched their pay cut in real terms. Year
0:09:55 > 0:10:01upon year. They see a service in decline. Will the First Minister
0:10:01 > 0:10:06explain why on her watch, Scotland' Fire and Rescue Service has been
0:10:06 > 0:10:15cut?Firstly, can I also take the opportunity to pay tribute to our
0:10:15 > 0:10:21firefighters. They do a fantastic job day in and day out. As Richard
0:10:21 > 0:10:24Leonard rightly says, regularly put their lives on the line in the
0:10:24 > 0:10:30interests of safety of all of us. Let me just address the issues that
0:10:30 > 0:10:36Richard Leonard has raised. They are important issues. This government
0:10:36 > 0:10:41has increased the operational budget for the Fire and Rescue Service in
0:10:41 > 0:10:45the financial year by £21.7 million to support investment in equipment
0:10:45 > 0:10:50and resources. Of course as a result of the budget yesterday and after
0:10:50 > 0:10:55years of pressure by those on the side of the House, £10 million next
0:10:55 > 0:10:59year will be able to reclaim by the Fire Service from that and they will
0:10:59 > 0:11:04benefit from the whole of that additional £10 million. Since the
0:11:04 > 0:11:10form of the Fire Service, there have compulsory redundancies and no
0:11:10 > 0:11:16closures. A hundred extra fighters were recruited in January and a
0:11:16 > 0:11:19recruitment campaign for 300 additional firefighters will be
0:11:19 > 0:11:23launched next week. Our focus has been and will continue to be on
0:11:23 > 0:11:26protecting front-line services. On the issue of pay, pay negotiations
0:11:26 > 0:11:30in terms of the Fire And Rescue Services, Richard Leonard will be
0:11:30 > 0:11:35aware, are ongoing. In terms of the next financial year, this government
0:11:35 > 0:11:39to this day, remains the only government in the whole of the UK
0:11:39 > 0:11:44and here that includes the Labour government in Wales, we are the only
0:11:44 > 0:11:50government in the UK that has given unequivocal commitment to lift the
0:11:50 > 0:11:541% public sector pay cut and it is deeply regrettable that no other
0:11:54 > 0:11:56government including the Labour government in Wells has agreed to do
0:11:56 > 0:12:04likewise. -- Labour government in Wales.The post of the Fire
0:12:04 > 0:12:10Brigades' Union in Scotland made it clear. No more cuts. The people of
0:12:10 > 0:12:15Scotland will have to do is make up their mind about who they believe.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19The firefighters on the front line or the First Minister on the
0:12:19 > 0:12:27sideline? Presiding officer, under my leadership, the Scottish Labour
0:12:27 > 0:12:30Party will work of government and trade unions to try and claw back
0:12:30 > 0:12:34the millions of pounds that have been lost but that in itself will
0:12:34 > 0:12:40not be enough. We'll be First Minister Guaranty no more cuts to
0:12:40 > 0:12:46the Fire and Rescue Service? -- will be First Minister Guaranty?I have
0:12:46 > 0:12:48just run through the fax for which a bunny
0:12:51 > 0:13:00-- for Richard Leonard. The operational budget has increased and
0:13:00 > 0:13:03regarding the cuts, this year the Fire and Rescue Service has included
0:13:03 > 0:13:08an extra 100 firefighters and go about it on the 13th of November
0:13:08 > 0:13:13open a recruitment campaign for 300 more -- 30th of November. That
0:13:13 > 0:13:18increasing front line firefighters not reducing them. We will ensure
0:13:18 > 0:13:21that the Fire Service gets the full benefit of the fact that they are
0:13:21 > 0:13:27able to refrain next year. We will continue to stand up for front line
0:13:27 > 0:13:30public services, continue to stand up for those who work in public
0:13:30 > 0:13:33services, continue to stand up for those who work in private companies
0:13:33 > 0:13:44just as we did last week getting a deal together to save Byfb and
0:13:44 > 0:13:49details at the end of it. We will continue to save jobs in Scotland. I
0:13:49 > 0:13:56hope we will have the support of Richard Leonard and his colleagues.
0:13:56 > 0:14:01Presiding officer, it is not just the firefighters this government is
0:14:01 > 0:14:06failing. After seven years of Tory austerity and a decade of mediocrity
0:14:06 > 0:14:14and indifference from the as -- from the SNP, we have the result of
0:14:14 > 0:14:20falling wages, shrinking public services, rising poverty,
0:14:20 > 0:14:24inequality, local government budget decimated, a quarter of a million
0:14:24 > 0:14:27children in Scotland living in poverty, hundreds of thousands of
0:14:27 > 0:14:31pensioners this winter facing the choice between eating and heating.
0:14:31 > 0:14:38More of the same. More of the same just won't do. Scotland needs real
0:14:38 > 0:14:43change and radical change. We'll be First Minister stand up, stand up.
0:14:43 > 0:14:48Then's firefighters, stand up for public services workers, stand up
0:14:48 > 0:14:53for all of Scotland's people and finally, use the powers of the
0:14:53 > 0:15:04parliament to stop the cuts.In that rather rambling question, I think I
0:15:04 > 0:15:09heard Richard Leonard mention pensions, can I remind him that
0:15:09 > 0:15:16pensions are a reserved matter. But if he wants to join us in a campaign
0:15:16 > 0:15:22to devolve responsibility for pensions, I would be delighted.
0:15:22 > 0:15:27Secondly, I have thought we have and will continue to oppose austerity
0:15:27 > 0:15:33but I simply remind Richard Leonard that the current period of austerity
0:15:33 > 0:15:36was actually started by Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling and at the last
0:15:36 > 0:15:42Labour government.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45Richard Leonard also mentioned wages. I say again, this Government,
0:15:45 > 0:15:50unlike any other Government in the UK, is committed to lefting the 1%
0:15:50 > 0:15:54public sector pay cap. That will form part of the budget we present
0:15:54 > 0:15:58to this Parliament in just a couple of weeks' time. Can I suggest to
0:15:58 > 0:16:02Richard Leonard that it is easy for Labour out of power to call on those
0:16:02 > 0:16:05in Government to do things but that's not credible when the only
0:16:05 > 0:16:11part of the UK where Labour is in power, they refuse to do things that
0:16:11 > 0:16:14Labour in this Parliament Labour call on us to do so. Perhaps the
0:16:14 > 0:16:18next time or before the next time Richard Leonard warts to come and
0:16:18 > 0:16:22ask me to do these things he should persuade the Labour First Minister
0:16:22 > 0:16:28of Wales to do them as well. So, when we put forward our budget, it
0:16:28 > 0:16:34will be a budget to protect public services, the low income vulnerable
0:16:34 > 0:16:37people of our country and a budget that will be about standing up for
0:16:37 > 0:16:44Scotland. When we publish it I will challenge all parties to back it
0:16:44 > 0:16:55because it will be in interests of this country we serve.May I add my
0:16:55 > 0:16:58congratulations to Richard Leonard on hi election and welcome him to
0:16:58 > 0:17:03the Labour front bench. One of the most short-sighted mistakes in the
0:17:03 > 0:17:07UK budget is the decision to cut stamp duty which all serious
0:17:07 > 0:17:12analysis shows will push house prices even higher and entirely fail
0:17:12 > 0:17:18to benefit first time buyers. Their methods of investment in new housing
0:17:18 > 0:17:21is also likely to provide more benefit for developers and
0:17:21 > 0:17:25landowners than for people truly in need of genuinely affordable
0:17:25 > 0:17:31housing. The equivalent of stamp duty is devolved in Scotland. The
0:17:31 > 0:17:33Scottish Government has previously already given ground to pressure
0:17:33 > 0:17:38from the Tories by cutting it to compete with George Osborne's
0:17:38 > 0:17:42policy. Can the First Minister give a clear guarantee that the Scottish
0:17:42 > 0:17:47Government will not repeat that mistake and will this time refuse to
0:17:47 > 0:17:56follow a foolish decision by a UK Government?Of course we've already
0:17:56 > 0:17:59got a more progressive system what is land and buildings transaction
0:17:59 > 0:18:03tax here in Scotland. The trshry said yesterday the policy
0:18:03 > 0:18:09aninetiesed in the budget was intended to exempt 80% of first time
0:18:09 > 0:18:15buyers from stamp duty. In Scotland, already 65% of first time buyers are
0:18:15 > 0:18:23completely exempt from L BT TT. 80% of first-time buyers pay no tax at
0:18:23 > 0:18:31all or lest than £600. All first time buyers, 100% who buy and or
0:18:31 > 0:18:38below the Scottish house price are exempt from paying LBTT we provide
0:18:38 > 0:18:40generous support to first-time buyers. As we final Iain Duncan
0:18:40 > 0:18:43Smith our budget over the next couple of weeks, we'll consider
0:18:43 > 0:18:47whether or not it is appropriate to give any further assistance to first
0:18:47 > 0:18:52time buyers. I think, as we do that, two points will be very much in our
0:18:52 > 0:18:56consideration. Firstly, the fact house prices are lower in Scotland
0:18:56 > 0:19:01than they are in the rest of the you can. The equivalent of a house at
0:19:01 > 0:19:06£300,000 in the rest of the UK in Scotland would be around £175,000.
0:19:06 > 0:19:13Secondly, we will be very mindful of the point Patrick Harvie talks about
0:19:13 > 0:19:17today, the OBR said yesterday that in its view, the policy announced by
0:19:17 > 0:19:21the Chancellor will push up house prices and result in first time
0:19:21 > 0:19:25buyers paying more for their house than they would without that policy.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29So, even with the haved autoeconomics we get from the
0:19:29 > 0:19:32Tories, I don't think that would make much sense. These will be the
0:19:32 > 0:19:36considerations we have in mind as we finalise our budget proposals in a
0:19:36 > 0:19:40couple of weeks' time.Thank you. I agree it wouldn't make much sense.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44It didn't make much sense last time the Scottish Government did it
0:19:44 > 0:19:48either. Throwing tax cuts into a dysfunctional housing market solves
0:19:48 > 0:19:52nothing. But housing isn't the only area where the UK Government is
0:19:52 > 0:19:57determined to help those least in need. Yet another income tax cut for
0:19:57 > 0:20:01high easterners. While people working hard to deliver public
0:20:01 > 0:20:07services have still not been given a fair pay rise. If the SNP's
0:20:07 > 0:20:11Westminster leader meant what he said yesterday in the Westminster
0:20:11 > 0:20:15chamber, that public sector pay should match the cost of living, a
0:20:15 > 0:20:19phrase I don't think we've heard from the First Minister yet, if we
0:20:19 > 0:20:23are to see that and avoid handing on Tory cuts to our local services and
0:20:23 > 0:20:27other parts of the Scottish budget, isn't it time for the First Minister
0:20:27 > 0:20:32to come off the fence on income tax and accept we need a radical
0:20:32 > 0:20:38redesign along the lines that the glean party's proposed protecting
0:20:38 > 0:20:41low easterners, cutting inequalitiy and raising revenue from the likes
0:20:41 > 0:20:46of the First Minister and myself who can afford to pay more to invest in
0:20:46 > 0:20:53the services that our country needs? I think in terms of the Green
0:20:53 > 0:20:57Party's specific proposals they put forward at the election, when he
0:20:57 > 0:21:03read the detail of the paper we pub Rished a couple of week ago what
0:21:03 > 0:21:07would be raised gives pause for thought. Whether that was the right
0:21:07 > 0:21:11way to government we've set out options around income tax which will
0:21:11 > 0:21:16allow us, if we choose to follow any of options, to see tax revenue make
0:21:16 > 0:21:19a contribution to meeting the challenges we face in terms of our
0:21:19 > 0:21:25budget. In terms of public sector pay, I've been very clear the 1% pay
0:21:25 > 0:21:30cap should are lifted and we need pay settlements that are affordable.
0:21:30 > 0:21:34That is just a statement of fact. But also reflect the real life
0:21:34 > 0:21:39living circumstances of public sector workers. I know everybody
0:21:39 > 0:21:43across the chamber understandably, no doubt those in the press gallery
0:21:43 > 0:21:49want to hear me say today specifically what our proposals in
0:21:49 > 0:21:53tax and public sector pay will be when we produce our budget. We'll go
0:21:53 > 0:21:59through the less dramatic but more appropriate process of finalising
0:21:59 > 0:22:02our budget proposals and presenting them to this Parliament in a couple
0:22:02 > 0:22:08of weeks' time. Then everything can debate and support them. The prop
0:22:08 > 0:22:12polesals we put forward will be in the overall interests of this
0:22:12 > 0:22:18country, the people, services and its economy.The First Minister will
0:22:18 > 0:22:23no doubt have heard the news today that Dundee's bid to become the
0:22:23 > 0:22:28European Capital of Culture in 2023 has been dealt a fatal blow because,
0:22:28 > 0:22:32according to reports, the UK will no longer be able to host this because
0:22:32 > 0:22:38of Brexit. Dundee's bid had the potential to have a massive positive
0:22:38 > 0:22:43impact not just for Dundee but for the likes of my constituencies and
0:22:43 > 0:22:48the wider north-east. Can I ask the First Minister what conversations
0:22:48 > 0:22:51and the Scottish Government has had with the UK Government on this
0:22:51 > 0:22:59matter?Can I thank you for raising this issue. I'm dismayed from the
0:22:59 > 0:23:03news I heard from theeer Euan commission this morning that
0:23:03 > 0:23:07Dundee's European capital of culture bid looks to be the latest victim of
0:23:07 > 0:23:10the Tory's obsession with taking this country out of the EU against
0:23:10 > 0:23:17our will. They should hang their heads in shame. The Scottish
0:23:17 > 0:23:22Government, of course, anticipated these issues. Late last year, Fiona
0:23:22 > 0:23:29Hyslop wrote to the UK Government to highlight the enormous benefit
0:23:29 > 0:23:33international cultural engagement can bring and to seek assurances
0:23:33 > 0:23:38that the UK would continue to engage in partnerships like this. It is
0:23:38 > 0:23:42deeply concerning the amount of time, effort and expense Dundee have
0:23:42 > 0:23:46put into scoping out their bid could be waisted thanks to the Brexit
0:23:46 > 0:23:50policy of that Tory Government. We're in urgent contact with the UK
0:23:50 > 0:23:54Government and Dundee to understand the potential implications of this
0:23:54 > 0:23:57situation sand to establish what action the UK Government's going to
0:23:57 > 0:24:03take to address it. Let me leave the chamber in no doubt. I call on the
0:24:03 > 0:24:08UK Government today to make clear not just why this has happened but
0:24:08 > 0:24:15how they intend to fix it so unit de-- Dundee can continue to aspire
0:24:15 > 0:24:23to be the Capital of Culture it so richly deserves to be.Thank you.
0:24:23 > 0:24:29Would the First Minister join with me in expressing concern about a
0:24:29 > 0:24:32charity based here in loath Janned well known to the Scottish
0:24:32 > 0:24:36Government for the good work it does helping dads develop better
0:24:36 > 0:24:41relationships with their children is having to reduce services, including
0:24:41 > 0:24:44playgroups, counselling following recent funding cuts. Would she ask
0:24:44 > 0:24:50her officials to meet with me and with Dad's Rock to see what help can
0:24:50 > 0:24:56can begin in the short and long-term to support this worthy cause.Can I
0:24:56 > 0:25:01thank Jamie Balfour for racing the issue of Dad's Rock. It is an
0:25:01 > 0:25:05organisation I know of and have seen first-hand the excellent work it
0:25:05 > 0:25:10does to help fathers develop better relationships with their children.
0:25:10 > 0:25:16Something which is a very worthwhile cause. I will have my officials look
0:25:16 > 0:25:19into the particular issues raised and write to him once we've had the
0:25:19 > 0:25:23opportunity to do that. The final point I make, it is not intended to
0:25:23 > 0:25:28have a go at Jamie Balfour, he's raising an important constituency
0:25:28 > 0:25:32issue. Here we see one of many real life implications of what I was
0:25:32 > 0:25:38saying to Ruth Davidson early on. We face next Qera £200 million real
0:25:38 > 0:25:41terms cut in our day-to-day budget. These are the kind of implications
0:25:41 > 0:25:46that will have to be faced because of that. That, I'm afraid, is
0:25:46 > 0:25:50bringing the Tories face-to-face with the real consequences of the
0:25:50 > 0:26:02budget decisions that they make.Can I remind the chamber I'm a board
0:26:02 > 0:26:06member of Remember throb NEETs a Scotland and PLO to the First
0:26:06 > 0:26:12Minister. Yesterday, rat cloy mad itch was jailed for life for
0:26:12 > 0:26:19atrocities committed in the 19900s Bosnian war. In which over 8,000
0:26:19 > 0:26:23mainly Muslim men and boys were slaughtered. This result will be of
0:26:23 > 0:26:27interest to many in Scotland, particularly those in our Bosnian
0:26:27 > 0:26:32community. Does the First Minister agree that yesterday's verdict is a
0:26:32 > 0:26:37tribute not just to the importance of the international community
0:26:37 > 0:26:44working together but particularly for groups like the mothers of slip
0:26:44 > 0:26:50NEETs a -- and will the First Minister commit to helping in any
0:26:50 > 0:26:57way Scotland can to delivering a stable and prosperous future for our
0:26:57 > 0:27:06friends in Bosnia Herzegovena. ?I share those sentiments. I very much
0:27:06 > 0:27:13welcomed yesterday's verdict and the sentence handed down. I personally
0:27:13 > 0:27:18have visited the memorial there and I know from the people I met there
0:27:18 > 0:27:24how much this verdict and sentence will mean to them and to all who
0:27:24 > 0:27:30suffered in the 1995 genocide. Indeed to everybody across Bosnia
0:27:30 > 0:27:37hertz government Ian ya. -- Herzegovina. We need to ensure the
0:27:37 > 0:27:41victims of violence and victims of sexual violence are heard. The
0:27:41 > 0:27:48crimes against them are not forgotten. Groups like the Mothers
0:27:48 > 0:27:53of vibe NEETs is a have provided inspiration for all of us. They act
0:27:53 > 0:27:58to reduce and ultimately eradicate violence against women. It would be
0:27:58 > 0:28:02appropriate for all of us in this Parliament on behalf of the people
0:28:02 > 0:28:06of Scotland to send a message of commemoration, solidarity and
0:28:06 > 0:28:11support to them.
0:28:16 > 0:28:20Yesterday, the independent Fraser of Allander Institute passed its
0:28:20 > 0:28:25verdict on the UK Government budget. It branded UK growth prospects as
0:28:25 > 0:28:33dire. As the MSP for a rural part of Scotland does the First Minister
0:28:33 > 0:28:37agree with me that the case for continued single market membership
0:28:37 > 0:28:46is growing stronger by the day?Yes, I do. I think the case for remaining
0:28:46 > 0:28:50with the the EU possibly grows stronger by the day. As a minimum,
0:28:50 > 0:28:54remaining within the single market and customs union. We're starting to
0:28:54 > 0:28:58see on an almost daily basis the consequences of Brexit from the
0:28:58 > 0:29:02confirmation earlier this week that the European medicines agency and
0:29:02 > 0:29:06the European banking agency are to leave London for other European
0:29:06 > 0:29:12capitals. The news today about Dundee's Capital of Culture bid to
0:29:12 > 0:29:16some very real financial consequences. It was striking
0:29:16 > 0:29:21yesterday in the budget that the Chancellor set aside more money to
0:29:21 > 0:29:25deal with the consequences of a Tory hard Brexit than he set aside to
0:29:25 > 0:29:30help the NHS with the pressures they face. That says everything you need
0:29:30 > 0:29:34to know about the warped priorities of Tory Government at Westminster. I
0:29:34 > 0:29:39think, as every day passes, as these consequences become more stark, that
0:29:39 > 0:29:43case for making sure that our country is not ripped out of the
0:29:43 > 0:29:51European single market will get evermore strong.To ask the First
0:29:51 > 0:29:55Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the
0:29:55 > 0:30:01autumn budget?Yesterday's budget provided few measures to grow the
0:30:01 > 0:30:05economy, tackle inequality are invest in public services. The
0:30:05 > 0:30:11announcements in relation to the North Sea and ending VAT obligations
0:30:11 > 0:30:16of Fire Services is welcome but long overdue. The day-to-day public
0:30:16 > 0:30:21spending's been cut by over £200 million in real terms next year and
0:30:21 > 0:30:28by 2020 our Des crestry budget will have been reduced by £2.6 million
0:30:28 > 0:30:34over the decade. While the budget provides some consequentials, over
0:30:34 > 0:30:38half are transactions which the Government cannot spend on front
0:30:38 > 0:30:42line public services and have to be repaid to the Treasury. This budget
0:30:42 > 0:30:48did little to help Scottish households or public services.The
0:30:48 > 0:30:54real terms cut to Scotland's revenue which is a real disappointment.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57Yesterday, revised OBR growth figures underlined Tory austerity is
0:30:57 > 0:31:01failing. On top of that, average wages are set to fall and taxpayers
0:31:01 > 0:31:05will pay through the nose for Brexit. When Scotland badly needs
0:31:05 > 0:31:09growth in our economy, isn't it time for real investment with no strings
0:31:09 > 0:31:15attached and more powers for this Parliament to grow our economy
0:31:18 > 0:31:22I agree that more poll we have in this Parliament to take our own
0:31:22 > 0:31:25decisions, it is better for people the length and breadth of our
0:31:25 > 0:31:29country. The foundation is reporting this morning, this is a serious
0:31:29 > 0:31:33point that the Tories won't listen to, but they really should. The
0:31:33 > 0:31:36resolution foundation this morning saying at Taoiseach average pay
0:31:38 > 0:31:45return to its previous level until 2025, 17 years after the pay
0:31:45 > 0:31:50squeeze. In the budget yesterday, there was not one single extra penny
0:31:50 > 0:31:55confirmed to help lift public sector pay. That I think, is the priority
0:31:55 > 0:31:59we see the Westminster government attached to the living standards of
0:31:59 > 0:32:06people across the country. We use the budget next month to put forward
0:32:06 > 0:32:12a budget for public services but also protect those on the lowest
0:32:12 > 0:32:15incomes in Scotland from the impact of Tory cuts that are biting so
0:32:15 > 0:32:21hard.The Chancellor announced yesterday that the Scottish police
0:32:21 > 0:32:25and Fire Services can be claim VAT thanks to pressure from 13 Scottish
0:32:25 > 0:32:35Conservative MPs at Westminster. Will the First Minister except that
0:32:35 > 0:32:43this was a mess entirely of the SNP's own making. They were into the
0:32:43 > 0:32:47police and Fire Services merger with our eyes fully opened and aware of
0:32:47 > 0:32:51the consequences of their actions. Will she not take the opportunity to
0:32:51 > 0:33:00thank the Conservative Chancellor for clearing up the mess for them?I
0:33:00 > 0:33:05increasingly just love it when Murdo Fraser gets to his feet. It's like
0:33:05 > 0:33:12Christmas come early every week. Let me remind one Murdo Fraser,
0:33:12 > 0:33:20presumably be same once there, said that police and sire not ages ago
0:33:20 > 0:33:26but recently, in October 2017, he got his feet and said "There is no
0:33:26 > 0:33:33justification for a VAT refund for and fire." -- for police and fire. I
0:33:33 > 0:33:36think those really cool
0:33:36 > 0:33:41I think those really cool
0:33:43 > 0:33:46really cruel Road to prove him utterly wrong but he often is
0:33:46 > 0:33:51utterly wrong. The Tories were forced yesterday to concede they
0:33:51 > 0:33:55were wrong all along on this issue. See this argument, this argument
0:33:55 > 0:34:02that it's all because the SNP pursued a policy of a single police
0:34:02 > 0:34:07force. The flaw in the argument for the Tories? The Tories propose a
0:34:07 > 0:34:13single police force as well. So this argument that it's a mess caused by
0:34:13 > 0:34:17SNP policy falls apart when the Tories did exactly the same policy
0:34:17 > 0:34:24all along. The fact is the Tories knew they were in the wrong, in an
0:34:24 > 0:34:28indefensible position, but by refusing to do the right thing until
0:34:28 > 0:34:34they somehow thought they could wring some party political advantage
0:34:34 > 0:34:38out of it, just shows how small minded and partisan and the Tories
0:34:38 > 0:34:45are and reflects really badly on them. My final point is this. Having
0:34:45 > 0:34:50conceded that it is wrong to take the 80 out of the pocket of our
0:34:50 > 0:34:55emergency services, it's not enough just to fix it for the future, B
0:34:55 > 0:35:07£140 million that has been taken from the emergency services back.
0:35:07 > 0:35:14The First Minister will be aware of the report last week demonstrating
0:35:14 > 0:35:18how the SNP government has systematically penalised local
0:35:18 > 0:35:24government resulting in £1.5 billion of cuts and 15,000 job losses. It's
0:35:24 > 0:35:29not just the figures, if the impact on local communities. The day
0:35:29 > 0:35:34centres have closed, the libraries have disappeared from local areas.
0:35:34 > 0:35:36The First Minister has budged taxation all the way through this
0:35:36 > 0:35:45session. When will she finally show some leadership and produce a budget
0:35:45 > 0:35:49which will use the powers of the Parliament, deliver progressive
0:35:49 > 0:35:55taxation and give a free funding to local government to protect local
0:35:55 > 0:36:04jobs and local services? James Kelly asked me when we both said the
0:36:04 > 0:36:10opposition and tax and other matters. Its 14th of December when
0:36:10 > 0:36:15we publish the budget in the chamber. He talks about local
0:36:15 > 0:36:19government funding, very important aspect of our budget consideration.
0:36:19 > 0:36:23In the budget for this financial year, we took steps to protect the
0:36:23 > 0:36:26spending power of local government and increase the spending power of
0:36:26 > 0:36:30local government considerably and will continue to do everything we
0:36:30 > 0:36:37can to protect front line services. I have said previously to Labour
0:36:37 > 0:36:40members who stand up and raise the issue of local government budgets
0:36:40 > 0:36:43because of last year, we also gave local councils the option of
0:36:43 > 0:36:47increasing their council tax up to a maximum of 3% to help with these
0:36:47 > 0:36:51pressures. The only councils across Scotland who thought they had enough
0:36:51 > 0:36:58money so they didn't have to do that were Labour councils. We have labour
0:36:58 > 0:37:03standing up in here, calling for more money, at their own councils
0:37:03 > 0:37:08ignored them by refusing to use the options to raise more money. The
0:37:08 > 0:37:12councils listen to James Kelly just as closely as Kezia Dugdale did when
0:37:12 > 0:37:22he told her she was not allowed to go to the jungle. STUDIO: It took 37
0:37:22 > 0:37:29minutes to get to Kezia Dugdale in the jungle.To ask the First
0:37:29 > 0:37:34Minister what the government's response is to the survey discusses
0:37:34 > 0:37:37Ambulance Services which suggests work pressure had affected the
0:37:37 > 0:37:40health of more than half of the respondents.Scottish Ambulance
0:37:40 > 0:37:50Service staff who responded to 740,000 incidences last year,
0:37:50 > 0:37:54provide help in difficult circumstances. Yesterday we met with
0:37:54 > 0:37:59the chief of the Ambulance Service to her set up the support of the
0:37:59 > 0:38:04welfare staff. Our team are considering the findings of this
0:38:04 > 0:38:08survey in detail and they are clear that they will take additional steps
0:38:08 > 0:38:12to address the issues raised.I think the First Minister for that
0:38:12 > 0:38:19response. Back in June 2008 when you wear Health Secretary, you get the
0:38:19 > 0:38:25Scottish Ambulance Service one month to bring forward plus two and single
0:38:25 > 0:38:31staffing of its services. And then take action to limit single manning.
0:38:31 > 0:38:35But a Freedom of information requests shows it occurred last year
0:38:35 > 0:38:45over to occurred 2200 times, what can she say to make sure they are
0:38:45 > 0:38:49not good in this N-terminal pole position?Single calling of
0:38:49 > 0:39:01ambulances should happen only in exceptional times. If you look at
0:39:01 > 0:39:07the report from the second quarter of 2017, the single crew increased
0:39:07 > 0:39:10slightly from the previous quarter but remained 1.3% of the total
0:39:10 > 0:39:15shifts carried out over in the period and we will continue to work
0:39:15 > 0:39:17closely with the
0:39:17 > 0:39:18period and we will continue to work closely with to ensure that only
0:39:18 > 0:39:25happens genuinely in exceptional time. There are currently recruiting
0:39:25 > 0:39:29a thousand additional power medics over this Parliament to reduce
0:39:29 > 0:39:33pressure on A&E and support primary care transformation and that work is
0:39:33 > 0:39:38under way. Those who work in Ambulance Services as I said, do an
0:39:38 > 0:39:41exceptional job and we all recognise that it is one of the most
0:39:41 > 0:39:45challenging jobs that anybody can do. The Scottish Ambulance Service
0:39:45 > 0:39:48have an employee assistance programme which includes
0:39:48 > 0:39:51counselling. We witnessed from Attica vents, therapeutic services
0:39:51 > 0:39:59and fast track access to physiotherapy. As part of the
0:39:59 > 0:40:03survey, the Scottish ambulance will consider what steps they need to
0:40:03 > 0:40:08take to give appropriate support to their employees.To ask the First
0:40:08 > 0:40:12Minister up what action the Scottish Government plans to take to support
0:40:12 > 0:40:17student in light of the call in the report in new social contract of
0:40:17 > 0:40:21students for them to be given a minimum income entitlement of itself
0:40:21 > 0:40:25and £100 per year?The government is committed to ensuring that all
0:40:25 > 0:40:29students especially those in most deprived communities are provided
0:40:29 > 0:40:34with financial support to succeed. That indeed is why we commissioned
0:40:34 > 0:40:38the report and I want to thank the members of the review board for
0:40:38 > 0:40:44their hard work on the past year. The report sets out a number of
0:40:44 > 0:40:46recommendations that would fundamentally change the way
0:40:46 > 0:40:50students are supported so it is only right that we now take some time to
0:40:50 > 0:40:53consider these recommendations in detail and of course, as part of
0:40:53 > 0:40:57current and future budget processes, and will set out our next steps in
0:40:57 > 0:41:04due course.The key question for the government's response is the balance
0:41:04 > 0:41:08they strike between grants and loans. The review central
0:41:08 > 0:41:12recommendation is disappointing in that it would embed the cut for
0:41:12 > 0:41:17grants for university students which this government made in 2013, and
0:41:17 > 0:41:22work yet again increase student indebtedness. Those debt levels have
0:41:22 > 0:41:27already doubled under this government, did despite the promise
0:41:27 > 0:41:31to dump the debt with poorer students coming with the highest
0:41:31 > 0:41:38debt the First Minister should listen to NUS Scotland and shift the
0:41:38 > 0:41:43balance back towards higher grants rather than just more debt?Let me
0:41:43 > 0:41:48start by saying on a point of consensus, I think Iain Gray is
0:41:48 > 0:41:52right that that is perhaps not the only people in one of the key point
0:41:52 > 0:41:57is relevant to the government's response to this report. We will
0:41:57 > 0:42:01respond in course after considering the recommendations. I should say
0:42:01 > 0:42:05that while I do not negate the promise telling macro
0:42:05 > 0:42:07that while I do not negate the promise telling is making about that
0:42:07 > 0:42:14report, we seek aid position where total student that we see a position
0:42:14 > 0:42:23with total student supporters up, more students are with receiving
0:42:23 > 0:42:25support, almost 3000 students qualify for a nonrepayable bursary
0:42:25 > 0:42:33which saw the funny and increase last year which helps raises the
0:42:33 > 0:42:37income threshold for bursaries. We have bit more in grants and
0:42:37 > 0:42:41bursaries last year than any previous year. -- paid more. That is
0:42:41 > 0:42:48the record now and we should build on that. The final point is this,
0:42:48 > 0:42:50while understanding absolutely the issues raised by student debt and
0:42:50 > 0:42:55that is one issue why we are so determined to keep tuition fees out
0:42:55 > 0:43:01of Scotland, but we have a situation where average student loan debt in
0:43:01 > 0:43:06Scotland is significantly lower than it is in any other part of the UK.
0:43:06 > 0:43:14In England, average student loan debt is £32,220. In Scotland it is
0:43:14 > 0:43:19at £11,740. We have work to do and this report provides us with the
0:43:19 > 0:43:23bases to do that work. But it's important to recognise that in many
0:43:23 > 0:43:27respects students in Scotland get much greater support in Scotland
0:43:27 > 0:43:32than they do elsewhere.Can the First Minister outline how the
0:43:32 > 0:43:41Scottish Government will take forward its commitment to raised
0:43:41 > 0:43:44student loan repayment threshold of a bid that was a manifesto
0:43:44 > 0:43:47commitment that we made at the last election.It is something we had
0:43:47 > 0:43:51committed even before the report that was published this week so we
0:43:51 > 0:43:54will shortly set up the detail of how we take forward that particular
0:43:54 > 0:44:03issue.Can I declare an interest in both my wife and daughter were at St
0:44:03 > 0:44:09John's Hospital. What is the government response to two any idea
0:44:09 > 0:44:13that A&E waiting times have been misrepresented?This is reflected in
0:44:13 > 0:44:17the action the Health Secretary has dated. She ordered a independent
0:44:17 > 0:44:27review last week into waiting times at St John's A&E department which
0:44:27 > 0:44:31followed the information given to NHS Lothian to these quaint
0:44:31 > 0:44:32followed the information given to NHS Lothian to these by a
0:44:32 > 0:44:38whistle-blower. This confirms certain areas of concern and she
0:44:38 > 0:44:40asked for an external review to investigate and that will report
0:44:40 > 0:44:46back to the Health Secretary early in the New Year.This week the
0:44:46 > 0:44:50health and support committee heard from representative of A&E staff
0:44:50 > 0:44:53from doctors, allied health professionals and nurses about how
0:44:53 > 0:44:56staff shortages and cut are impacting staff morale, the culture
0:44:56 > 0:45:01across the NHS and ultimately patient care. St John's, I hear
0:45:01 > 0:45:08repeatedly. I who want to do their job well but can't because there
0:45:08 > 0:45:11aren't enough of them. These revelations about the misreporting
0:45:11 > 0:45:15of waiting times appear to be yet more evidence of that. In the
0:45:15 > 0:45:19forthcoming budget, will the First Minister and still that the NHS is
0:45:19 > 0:45:22fully funded, it is staff appropriately and safely and that
0:45:22 > 0:45:29those who care for us are paid a fair wage for their efforts?
0:45:29 > 0:45:34I would agree with Neil Findlay's couplent that those working in our
0:45:34 > 0:45:38NHS generally but those working in in our emergency departments do. I
0:45:38 > 0:45:42recognise, I readily recognise both as a former Health Secretary, as fir
0:45:42 > 0:45:46minister now but just as a citizen of this country, the pressure those
0:45:46 > 0:45:52working in our health service are under. It has always been a job that
0:45:52 > 0:45:55has people working under pressure. With the ageing population, we know
0:45:55 > 0:46:01those pressures are increasing. We have increased the budget of the
0:46:01 > 0:46:04front line health service, an additional £3 billion over the life
0:46:04 > 0:46:11of this Government so far. We had the most extensive commitment to
0:46:11 > 0:46:16additional funding in the NHS over the lifetime of this Parliament. We
0:46:16 > 0:46:19see additional people working in our health service but we need to see
0:46:19 > 0:46:23continued reform of how health services work in conjunction with
0:46:23 > 0:46:27social care services. We'll continue in the budget in the a couple of
0:46:27 > 0:46:32weeks' time and beyond to take the best possible decisions ta make sure
0:46:32 > 0:46:36our health service has the support it needs.
0:46:39 > 0:46:43We had a refrains there from the First Minister to the budget due in
0:46:43 > 0:46:48three weeks' time. It dominated exchanges. Joined by a couple of
0:46:48 > 0:46:53journalistity chums.Let's talk budget. Let's talk the budget
0:46:53 > 0:46:58spending element first. Iain, take us through the business, the
0:46:58 > 0:47:04Treasury says it is £2 billion. Nicola Sturgeon says it is less than
0:47:04 > 0:47:11that. The wrong kind of money.You need a degree in accountancy to
0:47:11 > 0:47:16understand first ministers questions. It is whether or not this
0:47:16 > 0:47:23£2 billion is an authentic sum to be spent on day-to-day spending. Fraser
0:47:23 > 0:47:28offal inder support her on that. The Tory point is this transactions
0:47:28 > 0:47:34money which is essentially loans given, is often used by the
0:47:34 > 0:47:39Government when they are helping the farmers compensating them or CAP
0:47:39 > 0:47:44payments. This is seen as largely coming from the Government. Its is
0:47:44 > 0:47:48if they're not prepared to recognise that is money at their disposal,
0:47:48 > 0:47:57even for the short-term.The exchanges, Libby were robust?They
0:47:57 > 0:48:01were pretty combative, certainly. You had Ruth Davidson complaining,
0:48:01 > 0:48:05telling Nicola Sturgeon she was complaining about having the wrong
0:48:05 > 0:48:09sort of money and Sturgeon coming back accusing Davidson of being even
0:48:09 > 0:48:14more of a party stooge for her Westminster masters.Very strong.
0:48:14 > 0:48:20Pretty harsh. Sturgeon is in a very difficult position now. As Iain
0:48:20 > 0:48:24says, a love of this money that has been promised is not the kind of
0:48:24 > 0:48:30thing that can be used for day-to-day spending. She had a these
0:48:30 > 0:48:35commitments she's made, pledges on public sector pay, the NHS and child
0:48:35 > 0:48:42Kay which she has to deal with.The First Minister's right in saying
0:48:42 > 0:48:46this is not discretionary spending it has to be spent on private sector
0:48:46 > 0:48:49project loans. It has to be paid back to the treasury was a key
0:48:49 > 0:48:55point?That's true. I'm not sure, I think there is an element of
0:48:55 > 0:48:59discretion how they deploy it. But these are essentially loans which
0:48:59 > 0:49:06have to be paid back. Nevertheless, it is sometimes seen as money from
0:49:06 > 0:49:09the Government when the Scottish Government when they choose to
0:49:09 > 0:49:14interpret it as that. This goes right over our viewers' and voters'
0:49:14 > 0:49:18heads. These exchanges, really, are very unfortunate. People just turn
0:49:18 > 0:49:22off. As soon as they hear these numbers they don't believe what any
0:49:22 > 0:49:28politician says.Let's bring it down to detail. The pay question. Fir
0:49:28 > 0:49:32minister saying -- First Minister saying, Derek Mackay demanded a
0:49:32 > 0:49:37budget line that would cover lifting the pay cap for public sector
0:49:37 > 0:49:40workers generally. The Chancellor had warm words about nurses but
0:49:40 > 0:49:44didn't go beyond that. That puts the Scottish Government in something of
0:49:44 > 0:49:49a dilemma?This brings us to the question of the Barnet bypass. It
0:49:49 > 0:49:52seems, it was suggested by the Chancellor the other day he was
0:49:52 > 0:49:58going to pay for the increase in nurses' pay not through the
0:49:58 > 0:50:01conventional route of departmental spending but from a special source
0:50:01 > 0:50:07of funding. They would not be a Barnet consequential. I can't
0:50:07 > 0:50:12resolve that. I'm not quite sure what the implications are but
0:50:12 > 0:50:16there's a lot of jiggery poke Errie. People get that message.Maybe the
0:50:16 > 0:50:21point was each if it is money for nurses, it is not the police
0:50:21 > 0:50:25service, council workers, others. The pledge was to lift the public
0:50:25 > 0:50:31sector pay cap. Nicola Sturgeon has always accompanied that saying it
0:50:31 > 0:50:36has to be affordable.It has to be athe only way it can be done up here
0:50:36 > 0:50:40is through tax rises which is now, that's where the discussion point
0:50:40 > 0:50:47is. It is interesting, Iain talking about this discussion going over
0:50:47 > 0:50:52people's heads. You had every front page practically this morning
0:50:52 > 0:50:57calling for Sturgeon to scrap tax rises after this alleged generosity
0:50:57 > 0:51:02from Westminster. And, in fact, the BBC did a survey by this time last
0:51:02 > 0:51:07year, which was when members of the Scottish public were very keen to
0:51:07 > 0:51:12see a rise in the top rate of income tags but very much wanting Scottish
0:51:12 > 0:51:18taxes to remain in line with UK taxes. We'll see how that plays too.
0:51:18 > 0:51:21That is the Scottish Government's commitment.At the last election
0:51:21 > 0:51:28they said they would not increase tax rates on basic rate taxpayers.
0:51:28 > 0:51:34Clearly that's in their discussion document, the Scottish Government
0:51:34 > 0:51:39are minded to change that.She talked about the lowest paid. Those
0:51:39 > 0:51:45on the basic rate is quite wide. The lowest paid, perhaps those towards
0:51:45 > 0:51:51the upper rate before moving into 40%. If she changes the banding?
0:51:51 > 0:51:54That's what they've been thinking about. If you introduce new bands
0:51:54 > 0:52:00you could perhaps have a system where nobody who's earning less than
0:52:00 > 0:52:03the average wage in Scotland would pay more in tax but a number of
0:52:03 > 0:52:06people on basic rate tax at the moment will start paying more.
0:52:06 > 0:52:11That's the problem for Nicola Sturgeon of the she has that
0:52:11 > 0:52:16manifesto commitment she has to get round.Leonard's first performance
0:52:16 > 0:52:20on the dispatch box?He was confident you might ask yourself why
0:52:20 > 0:52:22he wasn't asking questions about taxation after the discussion we've
0:52:22 > 0:52:27had. He focussed on the Fire Service. He had just been addressing
0:52:27 > 0:52:30a rally of firefighters outside Holyrood before he came into the
0:52:30 > 0:52:41chamber.What did you make of him? It was another exchange, a dialogue
0:52:41 > 0:52:47of the death. On the one hand he was saying 700 fewer front line
0:52:47 > 0:52:50firefighters, Nicola Sturgeon saying that's not the case.What did you
0:52:50 > 0:52:54make of his performance?It is difficult. It is his first outing.
0:52:54 > 0:52:58He's a new face. There's been a lot of changes at the front bench of the
0:52:58 > 0:53:02Labour Party in recent years. I think he got through it OK. There's
0:53:02 > 0:53:08always, a lot of people say it is very unwise to use posters of images
0:53:08 > 0:53:13at first ministers question. It is easy for people to Photoshop them
0:53:13 > 0:53:17and have him saying something very different.Hang on a second. Another
0:53:17 > 0:53:23little one for you to chew over. Mr Leonard's predecessor as Labour
0:53:23 > 0:53:28Leader is Kezia Dugdale. She got a little outing in I'm A Celebrity
0:53:28 > 0:53:34last night. A little trail. She' be in the Jungle tonight. It has been
0:53:34 > 0:53:40hugely contention to say the least. Here's what one of her fellow MSPs
0:53:40 > 0:53:49had to say.It is utterly ludicrous. I think we have a situation where we
0:53:49 > 0:53:54are in the run up to the budget in Scotland where local government is
0:53:54 > 0:54:00on its knees, where the NHS has pressures like never before, when
0:54:00 > 0:54:05people's living zapped Ards are falling. They expect their MPs, MSPs
0:54:05 > 0:54:08councillors and elected representatives to be in fighting on
0:54:08 > 0:54:15their behalf. I don't think people would expect them to jet off around
0:54:15 > 0:54:20the world and sit around a camp fire eating kangaroo's appendage!Not
0:54:20 > 0:54:25sure if that will be on the menu tonight. But here's what Kezia
0:54:25 > 0:54:30Dugdale had to say regarding her reasons for joining the programme.
0:54:30 > 0:54:35I'm Kez Dugdale, a Labour MSP for Edinburgh and the Lothians. In the
0:54:35 > 0:54:40next few days I'll fly to Australia to take part in I'm Celebrity Get Me
0:54:40 > 0:54:45Out of Here. I appreciate yacht to some of my constituents this is a
0:54:45 > 0:54:48controversial move. There will be some upset about it, questioning my
0:54:48 > 0:54:55priorities. I want to take a minute to explain why I'm doing this. I'm A
0:54:55 > 0:54:59Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here is a huge UK-wide television programme
0:54:59 > 0:55:04with an audience into the millions. It is an amazing opportunity to talk
0:55:04 > 0:55:07to young people about politics and in particular, lake values. The
0:55:07 > 0:55:11first time I was approached to do this, I turned it down. I didn't
0:55:11 > 0:55:15think I could be away from my job for over five weeks. The show came
0:55:15 > 0:55:19pack to me to say could I go away for three weeks and two days. That's
0:55:19 > 0:55:24what I'll do. The minute I leave Australia I'll come back to the
0:55:24 > 0:55:28Scottish Parliament to do my job and I'm committed to doing that for the
0:55:28 > 0:55:32long-term. I hope to stand at the next election again as well. I
0:55:32 > 0:55:36appreciate however, I am away whilst I'm supposed to be doing my job.
0:55:36 > 0:55:42That's why I've donated by salary for the whole time I'm in Australia
0:55:42 > 0:55:47to the Rock Trust. That's an organisation which exists to support
0:55:47 > 0:55:52young people affected and at risk of homelessness. They do fantastic work
0:55:52 > 0:55:57supporting pretty vulnerable people across this city and beyond it. So,
0:55:57 > 0:56:01I donated 2,500 to them which is my salary for the time eye' out of the
0:56:01 > 0:56:04UK. I hope you can support their work too. In the mean tile, please
0:56:04 > 0:56:10tune into the show. You've got an opportunity to vote for me to do
0:56:10 > 0:56:14horrendous tasks covered in beasties and you can vote me out when the
0:56:14 > 0:56:19time comes too. Wish me luck. If I have to do some of the eating tasks,
0:56:19 > 0:56:24well, who knows!She has the appropriate headgear for heading off
0:56:24 > 0:56:29to the Jungle. What do you make of it, Iain?Well, you know, if she
0:56:29 > 0:56:33thinks going to the jungle and I'm A Celebrity will be a great
0:56:33 > 0:56:36opportunity to spread knowledge about Labour Party values...I'm
0:56:36 > 0:56:41sure they'll have a learned discussion about the Labour
0:56:41 > 0:56:45manifesto and tax problems?There has been an extraordinary amount of
0:56:45 > 0:56:53comment. Going on for Kay days. She's been criticised to the least
0:56:53 > 0:56:56for the fee for this appearance... Part of which she'll donate to
0:56:56 > 0:57:03charity.She says she'll donate her salary.And a part of fee.A lot of
0:57:03 > 0:57:07people thinking, ordinary people can't disappear off to the jungle
0:57:07 > 0:57:12for three weeks even if they are donating to charity. She didn't
0:57:12 > 0:57:19appear to get permission from the party itself. She did tweet when
0:57:19 > 0:57:22Nadine Dorries, the Tory MP did the same thing. This is a reason for
0:57:22 > 0:57:27being sacked.You're itching to get in.I have to say, it does irritate
0:57:27 > 0:57:31me when Neil Findlay talks about demeaning politics. Particularly
0:57:31 > 0:57:35when we think of the news over the last couple of weeks about sexual
0:57:35 > 0:57:38harassment, a sexual assault victim being encouraged to keep quiet for
0:57:38 > 0:57:43the good of her political party. I think those things demean politics a
0:57:43 > 0:57:50bit more. We need perhaps perspective about this.Do you
0:57:50 > 0:57:59defend Ms Dugdale?Think she's hopeful she be convert a whole load
0:57:59 > 0:58:03of 20-somethings about her jungle visit. She's proved she's game for a
0:58:03 > 0:58:08lot of things in her career in politics so far. We'll watch with
0:58:08 > 0:58:12interest.Will you be watching with interest?Absolutely. It is so
0:58:12 > 0:58:17bizarre. When I first heard this, I assumed this was a joke or a parody
0:58:17 > 0:58:24account. It was like when we heard Alex Salmond would host a show on
0:58:24 > 0:58:29Russia Today: Politics and showbiz are becoming inter twined.Libby,
0:58:29 > 0:58:34thank you, Iain, thanks very much indeed. We had coverage there of
0:58:34 > 0:58:37questions to the first minute sir. A little talk about jungle matters
0:58:37 > 0:58:42later. Primarily about the budget. As the First Minister said, the
0:58:42 > 0:58:47details of that Scottish budget will emerge in three weeks' time. We'll
0:58:47 > 0:58:51cover it every step of the way. From Holyrood and me, Brian Taylor,
0:58:51 > 0:58:54goodbye.