Official Report 739KB pdf
Plea Deals
In criminal cases, prosecutors often strike plea deals with defence lawyers. That practice can result in very serious charges being watered down or dropped altogether, even when the evidence is overwhelming, and victims are routinely not told or consulted about that. That is not justice.
I have been working with a group of female domestic abuse survivors, including Liz Shanks, who have suffered from those secretive plea deals. This week, I lodged amendments to the Government’s Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill on their behalf. Those amendments would give victims a voice in the process, or, at the very least, let them know what is happening. Will John Swinney work with me to back those critical amendments?
I share Mr Findlay’s objective of ensuring that justice is done for individuals who suffer as a result of criminal behaviour in our society. The Government has introduced the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill, which is being scrutinised in Parliament, and which is designed to strengthen the experience of victims in our criminal justice system. We will consider the amendments that Mr Findlay has lodged on behalf of those individuals—he mentioned the name of Liz Shanks—to advance those issues. We will consider the contents of those amendments as the committee and Parliament look at the contents of the bill.
I want to ask the First Minister about another horrific case involving a plea deal. Royal Air Force veteran Keith Rollinson went out to work as a bus driver but never came home. He was subjected to a frenzied attack by a 15-year-old passenger and died later in hospital. Because of the sentencing guidelines, the killer received a sentence of just over four years, and it is possible that he will not spend any time in prison. The killer was charged with murder but, in a plea deal, he admitted to a lesser charge of culpable homicide. Keith’s widow, Sue, is heartbroken, hurt and confused. She told me:
“The justice system keeps twisting a knife in my back. I don’t want any other family to go through this hell.”
Does John Swinney agree that those guidelines need to be scrapped?
First, I express my sympathy to Mrs Rollinson for the loss of her husband. The attack that Mr Findlay talks about was unspeakable, and the criminal justice process has taken its course. I extend my sympathies to Mrs Rollinson on her loss. I cannot comprehend how she will be feeling.
Mr Findlay raises an important issue, but it gets us into territory that he knows that I have to keep well out of, which is decisions that are made about independent prosecutions that are taken forward by the Crown. As a society, we pride ourselves on the fact that the constitution of our Parliament and our criminal justice system is founded on the independence of the judiciary and the independence of the Crown in determining approaches to prosecution. Those have been fundamental building blocks of our society.
It is important that Parliament expresses its view when it considers that issues need to be addressed to ensure that concerns about sentencing policy and prosecutorial policy are reflected by Parliament, when it is appropriate for Parliament to do so. Ultimately, however, those decisions are taken independently by the prosecution service and the judiciary.
The truth is that the guidelines were issued by the Scottish Sentencing Council, which was in turn created by the Scottish Government.
I also want to ask the First Minister about one of Scotland’s greatest miscarriages of justice. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that George Beattie did not and, indeed, could not have murdered Margaret McLaughlin. Campaigners including the late Labour MP Jimmy Hood have spent 50 years fighting for justice on behalf of George and Margaret. Four years ago, new evidence emerged about a more likely suspect, but the authorities appeared to do nothing. Now in his 70s and in poor health, George has told me that he fears going to his grave as a murderer. Will John Swinney consider what his Government can do to right that egregious wrong?
In relation to Mr Findlay’s earlier remarks, I make the point that, although the Scottish Sentencing Council is a creation of statute, it acts independently of the Government. That ensures that all the different elements in the criminal justice system that I talked about—the independent judiciary, the independent prosecutorial service and the independent sentencing council that advises on sentencing approaches—are undertaken in a way that assures all of us that the criminal justice system is operating in a fair, appropriate and dispassionate fashion across all cases and that nobody is prejudiced as a consequence.
In relation to Mr Beattie’s case, Mr Findlay will be aware of the route through the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission for potential miscarriages of justice to be explored, which has led to judgments and decisions being overturned in the past. That is a well-established statutory route through which such approaches can be pursued.
I hear what the First Minister says about the Scottish Sentencing Council, but he could perhaps heed our calls to include a greater voice for victims on it.
In my final question of the year to the First Minister, I want to raise the tragic case of baby J, whose identity cannot be disclosed. Baby J was found dead in West Lothian 10 years ago. He was just 11 weeks old. The authorities knew that he was at risk, even before he was born, but that did not protect him. His tiny body had numerous injuries, including multiple broken bones, and a judge said that only his parents could have inflicted those injuries. No criminal charges have ever been brought. Six months ago, I was pleased when the Lord Advocate told me that she had instructed a new investigation by specialist prosecutors. She also said that a fatal accident inquiry might be held. Will the First Minister back my calls for that inquiry and ensure that every effort is made to secure justice for baby J?
On Mr Findlay’s first point, I hope that my first answer to him gives him reassurance that I attach the greatest significance to the voice of victims being heard in our criminal justice system. If there are ways in which that needs to be strengthened—indeed, we have legislation before Parliament to do exactly that, which, in our former lives, Mr Findlay and I scrutinised together on the Criminal Justice Committee; we were able to co-operate there, so we might be able to co-operate on some of those questions—I assure him that we will look at those points. There is scope for the bill to be amended on the basis of the point that Mr Findlay has raised.
In relation to the tragic case in West Lothian, the Lord Advocate has made it clear that a renewed investigation should take place. The Crown will determine, on the basis of a police investigation, what actions, if any, should be taken—to do so is the proper role of the Crown.
Any question of a fatal accident inquiry, again, rests independently on the Crown’s judgment, and the Lord Advocate has made clear her position on that. We will, of course, hear more from the Lord Advocate as the case is considered.
Housing Emergency
Presiding Officer, I wish you and everyone across the chamber, and all the Parliament staff, a very merry Christmas and all the best for 2025. I send a special thank you to our emergency service personnel, who will be working throughout the festive period.
Scotland is in the middle of a housing emergency. While all of us here will wake up this Christmas morning to see the joy on our loved ones’ faces, this year a record number of Scots will wake up without a home to call their own. Homelessness is at record levels, 10,000 children are living in temporary accommodation, and hundreds will be left to wake up in hostels, refuge centres and bed and breakfasts. Is John Swinney still proud of his Scottish National Party Government’s record on housing?
I associate myself with Mr Sarwar’s remarks and express my good wishes to you, Presiding Officer, and to parliamentary staff for a happy Christmas. I express my appreciation to those in the emergency services, our volunteer community and our public services who will be working hard to keep everybody safe and supported during the Christmas break.
On the question of housing, the Government accepts that there is a housing emergency. We are not building enough houses. We have built more affordable houses per head of population in Scotland than have been built in other parts of the United Kingdom, but we are not building enough, which is why the Government has significantly increased the housing budget for the next financial year by more than £200 million. We have allocated £768 million, representing a 38 per cent increase in the housing budget, to help build the housing that is required to meet the needs of people in Scotland.
The Government has a strong record on building houses, but we have a changing society that requires more house building, and the Government is putting in place the resources to make sure that that can be the case.
John Swinney is talking about correcting the mess that his Government has made, but this is about people here and now. I will give one example out of thousands.
Mariam is a single working mum in Glasgow. Almost two years ago, she and her four children were evicted after she complained about mould and leaks that were affecting her children’s health. She was forced to declare herself homeless and was put into temporary accommodation, an hour from her children’s school, where she and her family have been living ever since—five people crammed into a two-bedroom flat. Despite Mariam’s efforts, her daughter, who dreamed of being a dentist, had her education so disrupted by the chaos that she missed out on her dream by just one mark.
The housing emergency has an immediate impact, but can you not see that it is also impacting the life chances and outcomes of our young people? How can the Government be proud of its record?
It is important to look at the data and the evidence. Over the past 14 years, we have lived through a period of punishing austerity. That is a financial context that Mr Sarwar and I agree about: we agree that the period of austerity has been incredibly damaging for public infrastructure and the public fabric of our country and that it has significant social and economic implications.
In that context, the Scottish Government has built 73 per cent more affordable homes per head of population than has been built in Wales and 47 per cent more than in England since 2007. That is the record of this Government, and I will argue for it. The facts speak for themselves: against the prevailing tide of austerity, the Scottish Government has built more affordable houses per head of population than any other part of the United Kingdom. However, I accept that that is not enough, which is why we have just increased the budget and put in a commitment to ensure that we can encourage and motivate more house building to address the very issues that Mr Sarwar raises with me today.
The facts do speak for themselves. There are 10,000 children in Scotland who are in temporary accommodation, which is a record high, but all that the First Minister wants to do is point to other parts of the country rather than look at his own record of failure.
The truth is that this crisis has been years in the making. I remind members that these are your constituents who I am talking about—children in your own constituencies—who are living in temporary accommodation.
Always speak through the chair, please.
The truth is that this crisis is years in the making. Mariam’s heartbreaking story is just one example out of thousands. [Interruption.]
Let us hear Mr Sarwar.
On John Swinney’s watch, house building is down by 10 per cent, the number of affordable and private homes that have been built is the lowest in more than a decade, and there are more than 11,000 council houses lying empty. Every statistic is another example of a family that has been failed and a future that has been squandered.
As Alison Watson from Shelter Scotland has said:
“Despite declaring a national housing emergency earlier this year, the Scottish Government has failed to get to grips with a deepening crisis ... More than 10,000 children will wake up facing the trauma of homelessness this Christmas—the highest number on record”.
That is 10,000 children without a home to call their own on Christmas morning. First Minister, how many children will wake up homeless under this Government next year?
I agree with Mr Sarwar on the objective of ensuring that children do not live in poverty—that is absolutely at the heart of my Government’s programme and of everything that we are trying to do.
On housing, I am afraid that it is not good enough for Mr Sarwar to dismiss the points that I have made about the evidence. In a climate of austerity, the Scottish Government has built more affordable houses per head of population than have been built in any other part of the United Kingdom. That is a simple statement of the evidence on our commitment to housing.
In the budget proposition that we have put forward, £768 million is allocated to the housing budget. As part of that, resources are available to tackle the issue of voids, which has been tackled during the current financial year, to bring more properties into use. Government expenditure is being used to support that activity.
In addition to all that, the Government’s budget provides a record settlement for local authorities: the £1 billion increase in local authority funding will support services that include homelessness services.
This is where we get to the crunch point. In a few weeks’ time, we will find out whether Mr Sarwar is interested in a solution or whether he is interested only in rhetoric. The Government’s budget will have to be voted for in this Parliament. The people of this country have just had an insight into Mr Sarwar’s rhetoric. We have heard Mr Sarwar’s rhetoric on the WASPI women—women against state pension inequality. Before the election, the Labour Party promised big, bold action on the WASPI women, but it has delivered absolutely nothing whatsoever.
Mr Sarwar is in no position to come here and give any of his rhetoric unless he is prepared to vote for the Government’s budget and help to lift children out of poverty.
Climate Action
Presiding Officer, I, too, wish you and all Parliament staff, and members across the chamber, all the best for the festive season, and a good new year.
However, 2024 was the year when the Scottish Government had to admit that it is years behind schedule on climate. In response, the Scottish National Party said that it would accelerate action by providing an energy strategy, a plan to cut car traffic, funding to help agriculture to become climate friendly and a new bill to get Scotland off the gas grid and roll out clean heating in homes across the country. So far, none of that has happened. That last action is urgent, because if we get that bill right, it will cut not only emissions but people’s energy bills. The Government said that it would introduce that bill by the end of this year. Where is it?
The Government is working to introduce legislative proposals in that respect, but Mr Harvie’s characterisation of the Government’s programme is not accurate and not representative. On a variety of issues—whether on transport, agriculture, heating, renewable energy or measures to reduce carbon through investment in forestry or in peatland restoration—the Government is taking the steps that are necessary to tackle climate action. We will do that as part of a sustained programme. That includes the underpinning of provision of £4.9 billion of investment, in the Government’s budget, to support those objectives. We are determined to fulfil those commitments to Parliament.
Each of the specific examples that I mentioned was promised earlier this year and has not yet been delivered. The First Minister knows that the clean-heat industry will take off only if the Government gives clarity and leadership, so any more delay on the bill to which I referred is unacceptable.
Trust in politics matters. We have just heard John Swinney rightly condemning the United Kingdom Government for breaching the trust of the WASPI women—women against state pension inequality—but that question of trust applies to him, too. The Scottish Government promised to accelerate climate action to make up for its record of failure, but that is simply not happening. The first months of 2025 will be critical for Scotland’s future efforts on climate, because that is when we are due to get new carbon budgets and a new climate plan. Those decisions will determine whether we succeed or fail for the next decade.
How is anyone supposed to trust that the First Minister will do what needs to be done when we are still waiting for so many of the actions that he promised?
That will come down to the delivery of actions, and the Government is focused on getting on with those things.
Let us take renewable energy as an example. Because of the policy certainty that is offered by this Government, we have, essentially, decarbonised Scotland’s electricity network by the shift to renewable energy.
We are delivering on many other aspects of our policy agenda, but I have made it pretty clear that we do not all have to wait for new plans and strategies, because we have lots of those things. The Government’s commitments to climate action and a programme of delivery are clear, and are what ministers are taking forward.
I look forward to engaging with Mr Harvie and his colleagues on how we can support that by passing the Government’s budget, because none of what Mr Harvie is talking about will be achieved if the budget is not passed and if the £4.9 billion that we plan to invest in climate action cannot be invested.
Sale of Puppies and Dogs (Festive Period)
To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will encourage the public not to buy puppies or dogs during the festive period, in light of the reported possibility that these may be the product of irresponsible breeders, including illegal puppy farms. (S6F-03648)
On the basis that a dog is for life, and not just for Christmas, the Scottish Government works throughout the year with key stakeholders, including the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, local authorities and other Administrations, to raise awareness of the responsibilities of prospective dog owners and of buying a pet safely. We particularly point to the Scottish SPCA’s Christmas campaign on the issue and we encourage prospective owners to consider rehoming a dog, instead of buying a puppy.
We welcome and support Christine Grahame’s efforts with the Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill, which will help to emphasise the need for people to act responsibly when deciding to buy a dog or to take one into their lives, and to be responsible owners in ensuring the dog’s welfare for as long as they have it.
Will the First Minister take the opportunity to commend the responsible breeders and rescue centres that will not home dogs, puppies or kittens over the festive period? The disturbance, bright lights and noise are the last thing those animals need as an introduction to their new home.
Anyone who has concerns that puppies are being trafficked should report that to the police or the SSPCA. Anyone who sees a puppy being advertised online or is buying it out of the back of a van in a car park will have no idea where that puppy came from or the misery that brought its journey to an end.
I know, admire and respect Christine Grahame’s long interest in those issues and commend all the wise advice that she has put on the record for members of the public. All the steps that she has set out are valuable in ensuring that individuals purchase pets in a responsible and sustained climate in which the welfare of the animal has been assured and protected. My colleague’s advice is very important at this time.
I also voice my support for the Scottish SPCA’s efforts to promote responsible pet purchases, and I commend the work by Christine Grahame and Maurice Golden, along with that of other agencies, to smash the smugglers.
The public also have an important role to play. Ferries, especially through the port of Cairnryan, are one of the key smuggling channels. Does the First Minister agree that it is important that passengers are aware of suspicious activity and know how to report it? Posters and social media efforts do not reach everyone, so what more can the Scottish Government do to ensure that more passengers receive that message?
Mr Whittle raises an important point. The Government works closely with officials in the Northern Ireland Executive and with key agencies, through the paws for thought puppy trafficking group, to disrupt and target those who are involved in that trade. Many collaborative actions are taken by us and the Northern Ireland Executive, and the multi-agency pet trade task force shares intelligence and targets those who are involved in the illegal breeding and smuggling of puppies. I hope that that assures Mr Whittle that there is active engagement between the Scottish Government and that of Northern Ireland, as well as with other United Kingdom Administrations, to ensure that the issue is properly and fully addressed, to the best of our ability.
INPS (Administration)
To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government is taking in response to the reported announcement that NHS Scotland’s information technology software supplier, INPS, has entered administration, in light of concerns that this could leave general practitioners without the digital infrastructure to maintain electronic health records. (S6F-03654)
I begin by assuring the Parliament that there is currently no impact on patient care or the availability of IT systems for GPs as a result of the announcement.
Scottish Government officials are liaising with NHS National Services Scotland, which holds the national framework contract with INPS on behalf of NHS Scotland, and with the INPS administrators. NSS has established an incident management team, and contingency planning is under way. The Royal College of General Practitioners, the British Medical Association, GP practices and health boards in Scotland have been fully apprised of the situation. Officials have also engaged with counterparts across the four nations, with a further meeting being due to take place tomorrow.
This is an emerging situation. The company is now formally up for sale, and I anticipate that the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care will be able to provide a fuller update to Parliament in January.
I declare an interest as a practising NHS GP.
The BMA has told me that the Scottish Government has not invested well in GP IT infrastructure. Hardware is out of date and we are using legacy software without support from software companies. Our systems in our Scottish GP surgeries were often designed for the English market and have been downgraded and shoehorned into our surgeries. The First Minister said that there are currently no issues, but INPS supplies Vision, which is one of our most vital systems. The situation is a disaster in waiting or in the making, as it will potentially leave GPs unable to safely see patients. A GP in Orkney wrote to us with that exact concern. What will the First Minister do to ensure the integrity of our vital NHS IT infrastructure?
The Government is focused on exactly that point. That is why I indicated that there is an incident management team, with contingency planning under way, and that the various relevant organisations that need to be advised about these issues are currently being advised.
There is, of course, technical capability in our GP practices already, and the health secretary will be actively engaged to ensure that our officials are doing everything that they can to support continued provision of that activity.
However, I come back to my key point, which is that there is currently no impact on patient care or the availability of IT systems for GPs as a result of the announcement.
Contact Scotland BSL (Termination of Contract)
To ask the First Minister what consideration the Scottish Government has given to what the potential impact might be on deaf and deafblind people of the termination of its contract with Contact Scotland BSL. (S6F-03665)
The Scottish Government wrote to the supplier of Contact Scotland BSL on 4 December notifying it that its contract would come to an end on 31 March 2025, in accordance with its terms. First, I want to be clear that there will be no break in service for users of Contact Scotland BSL while we retender for the free service. We will work closely with BSL users in Scotland and the current supplier of Contact Scotland BSL to design the service to ensure that it best meets the needs of those who use it and that it raises awareness of the availability of the service and, therefore, also increases the number of users.
That seems to be a change in direction from the Government because, in its letter, the existing service provider was informed that the contract would not be retendered. I am sure that deaf people in the public gallery and across the country will welcome the news that the service is to be retendered, which is different from the information that I have received so far. If that is a change in the Government’s position, it is welcome.
We should put ourselves in the shoes of a deaf person and imagine that we are not feeling well so we go to our general practitioner and are referred for further tests. When we go to the consultant’s appointment, we cannot get an interpreter. Previously, before we had the service in place, people would often have to take family members with them. Can members imagine taking a teenage family member to interpret the devastating news that they could potentially receive? The change in information from the Government is welcome, but I ask the First Minister to ensure that the deaf and deafblind community is fully consulted on what the new service will look like.
I give Mr Griffin that assurance. I am sorry if there has been an impression that there was to be no retendering of the service. I will make sure that that is properly explored.
I know the long-standing interest that Mr Griffin takes on these issues. He has given a very distinguished contribution to Parliament on these topics, and I want to make sure that the legitimate issues that he raises are properly explored. I give the assurance that there will be engagement with the BSL community.
If, to seek further assurance, Mr Griffin wishes to raise any more material with me, he knows that I will happily engage with him about that, as will ministers, to make sure that the service is available for all the legitimate reasons that he has put to me today.
I welcome what the First Minister has said in response to Mark Griffin. However, Mark Griffin is right—in the correspondence that the Scottish Government sent to the existing service provider, it says:
“following Ministerial agreement in November, the Scottish Government will not be retendering a BSL Video Relay service”.
It says that very clearly in the letter. Will the First Minister now confirm that the service is not being defunded and that there will be no break or disruption to the Contact Scotland BSL service as it is now operating?
I will read my earlier answer again, because it is printed and typed in front of me, so this information will have to be correct. [Laughter.] I am becoming slightly uneasy at the frequency with which the question is being put to me, so this wording had better be correct: I want to be clear that there will be no break in service for users of Contact Scotland BSL while we retender for the free service.
There is clearly an issue here, which I need to get to the bottom of, because, if I am getting it from both sides of the chamber, I had better make sure that it is absolutely watertight. However, that is the commitment that I give to the Parliament today and, because I have given Parliament that commitment, that is what is going to have to happen.
We move to general and constituency supplementary questions.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Jobs (East Kilbride)
When the previous Conservative Government proposed closing Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office operations in East Kilbride, I stood with the Labour council leader against that bad decision, which will remove 1,000 jobs from the town and will have a negative impact on many employees who are settled there. The then Labour candidate for Westminster rightly said that taking away those jobs would cause much damage. However, the new Labour Government has doubled down on that Tory plan, hoping to leave as soon as 2026. No updates from local Labour politicians have been forthcoming, despite recent developments.
Previous United Kingdom Government figures suggest that ploughing ahead with that move could hurt East Kilbride’s economy to the tune of £30 million. Can the First Minister confirm whether the UK Government has discussed that with the Scottish Government and whether the Labour Administration has shared an updated economic impact assessment of the cost to East Kilbride of its abandonment?
First, I express my thanks to the committed workforce at the FCDO in East Kilbride. There is a long history and tradition of contributing to international development activity from East Kilbride. It has been a source of great pride in that community and across Scotland.
I am not aware of any direct contact with the Scottish Government on that issue, nor of any updated economic assessment However, if any update to Collette Stevenson on that point is required, I will make sure that it is forthcoming to her, because we value that employment and recognise its importance to the East Kilbride economy.
Closed-Circuit Television (Glasgow)
On Sunday 15 December, which was the day of the Scottish cup final, we witnessed appalling scenes of violence and disorder in the city centre of Glasgow, which was caused by groups of football supporters—who were not representative, of course, of the vast majority of football fans.
First, I agree with the First Minister when, in response to that, he said that clubs have a role to play in preventing such disgraceful behaviour. We agree on that. However, given that the police are now trying to identify those who are responsible through the use of closed-circuit television and social media footage, is the First Minister aware that CCTV cameras in Glasgow are no longer staffed 24 hours, seven days a week? That means that, before the 3 pm shift, the cameras cannot zoom in and there cannot be detailed monitoring of disorder in real time.
I fully appreciate that the First Minister will say that he is not responsible for CCTV in Glasgow, but I am asking him not to stay silent about this. Does he believe that Police Scotland needs all available resources to tackle crime, not just those relating to football events but other crimes, such as violence against women, that often occur outwith those hours? Does the First Minister agree—
Briefly, Ms McNeill.
I appreciate that he might not be aware of this, but does he agree that it is a scandal that Police Scotland was not consulted when Glasgow City Council removed 24/7 CCTV? I would like the First Minister to agree with me on that.
I will have to look into the specifics of CCTV shift patterns, because it is not something for which I carry responsibility, so I will have to explore that point.
On the substantive issue that Pauline McNeill put to me, I want to make it clear that the overwhelming majority of the fans who attended the football match behaved perfectly well. We are talking about a minority, and their behaviour has to be addressed. It is just not acceptable for Christmas shoppers to have to go through what they went through on Saturday. Whether it is Christmas shopping or shopping on any other day, it is just not on.
The clubs and the police have a role to play. Police Scotland had the situation in the city centre—unpleasant as it was—entirely under control, and they adapted their operational planning to deal with the situation as it emerged. I therefore have every commendation for the police and the way in which they deployed their resources.
Fundamentally, it is unacceptable for football fans—even a minority—to behave in the fashion that they behaved on Sunday. There cannot be a repeat of that. The police will be planning to deal with it, but the clubs have to take action and those who are responsible have to be apprehended.
Harland & Wolff (Deal with Navantia)
Harland & Wolff’s deal with Navantia will save thousands of jobs, many of which are at the Methil yard in my constituency. Will the First Minister join me in welcoming the deal, which will protect the workforce and the shipbuilding industry in Scotland?
I welcome the positive news of the deal between Harland & Wolff and Navantia. It has come about with a great deal of engagement from the Deputy First Minister, trade unions, management and staff, and collaboration with the United Kingdom Government. The deal will provide security and reassurance to employees at the Methil yard in Mr Torrance’s constituency and at the Arnish site in the Western Isles, in the constituency of Dr Allan. It is welcome news and I am delighted to see it.
Third Sector
I am sure that we are all looking forward to our festive break—I know that I certainly am—but it is fair to say that many people across Scotland find Christmas and new year to be a difficult time of year, particularly those who face social isolation, loneliness, grief, depression or illness. Unfortunately, at this time of year, we often see huge spikes in domestic violence, which is fuelled mostly by alcohol.
As well as paying tribute to the front-line blue-light workers, whom we all thank for their time and service, can we also pay tribute to the vast armies of volunteers in the third sector who, day in, day out, 24/7 and 365 days a year, will also be there to help people in times of need and trouble? As we look into 2025, will the First Minister commit his Government to supporting the third sector as best we can, given that its work very often starts when other public services end?
I happily associate myself with the remarks of Mr Greene, who has made a substantial contribution in the Parliament to the issues of mental wellbeing and support for individuals who are wrestling with social isolation and loneliness, and I commend him for doing that.
A whole range of third sector organisations provide invaluable support. As First Minister, I have the privilege of encountering and engaging with many of them. It is heartwarming to see the vital role that they perform in our society, and they will be doing so over the Christmas break, when many of us will be appreciating some time of respite.
I therefore associate myself very much with Mr Greene’s remarks. I assure him that the Government’s budget will be focused on supporting third sector organisations. They are a linchpin in the delivery of many of the interventions that we need to put in place to support the mental wellbeing of individuals. Obviously, the Parliament will consider those questions in the spring to make sure that we have that support in place for those organisations.
Lilias Graham Trust
The Lilias Graham Trust, which is based in Thornhill, near Stirling, has been a lifeline for families in Scotland for decades, during which time the provision of residential support and parenting capacity assessments have been part of its mission to help families on the edge of care who have been impacted by adverse childhood experiences, trauma, social exclusion and poverty. However, on 22 November, the decision was taken to wind up the trust, and the vital residential facility will close its doors on 31 January, after having written to the Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise for support, which was not forthcoming.
Given that the sustainability of services is central to the Scottish Government’s commitment to keeping the Promise, and that the vital support to improve the lives of children, families and communities that is given by third sector organisations such as the Lilias Graham Trust is at risk of disappearing altogether, how can the First Minister’s Government claim to keep the Promise if it idly stands by and lets long-standing third sector organisations that are keeping it go to the wall?
I understand the sentiments that underpin Roz McCall’s question, but I am not familiar with the case that she puts to me, about the Lilias Graham Trust. I am sure that the trust has made a significant contribution to supporting the wellbeing of children and young people. However, as is always the case in some of these areas, changes to service provision are driven by changes in the way in which we support families.
For example, at the heart of the Promise is a determination to try to keep families together and to avoid separating them. There may be a shift to putting more resources into supporting families in order to keep them together, which would be consistent with the direction of policy in the Promise, because that is fundamentally the core point in the Promise.
There may be changes in service provision. In Glasgow, for example, there have been significant changes in the way that the city deploys its expenditure for care-experienced young people, because it has now shifted its balance away from services that it provides and towards putting much more support into supporting families to stay together.
I will look at the issues that Roz McCall raises with me today, I will take counsel from the Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise, and I will reply in writing to Roz McCall about the issues involved.
Post Office Closures
My constituency has no banks—they have all deserted the communities that I serve. In Springburn town centre, however, there is a Crown post office. It is an anchor tenant in the local shopping centre and provides a vital service to hundreds of customers every week. A strategy that has been agreed by the United Kingdom Labour Government and taken forward by the Post Office could axe that service, which would be a body blow for financial inclusion and local regeneration plans.
How can the Scottish Government support areas such as Springburn that are facing such challenges? Will the First Minister write to the UK Government, as I have done, urging it to halt that flawed process and to engage meaningfully with local communities and trade unions to ensure that that post office can have a strong and vibrant future at the heart of Springburn?
I understand the importance of the point that Mr Doris puts to me. I can confirm that the Minister for Public Finance, Ivan McKee, has written to the UK Government on the question.
In the absence of banking facilities, post offices become central to the delivery of access to finance for individuals. I note the concerns that Mr Doris has raised and that there was a parliamentary debate on the subject the other day, led by Kenneth Gibson. That provides an illustration of the degree of parliamentary concern on the question.
I confirm that that letter has been written, and we will engage with the UK Government to try to find a different approach to that flawed process.
Violence Against Retail Workers
I remind the chamber of my entry in the register of members’ interests, which states that I am the director of a company with retail interests and am a member of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers.
The First Minister might have read an article that was published two days ago on the BBC website highlighting a spiralling pattern of violence against retail workers in my constituency. It detailed various incidents, including a business owner having a knife drawn on him, a customer being hospitalised, a shop owner being punched and a store manager being throttled. Those are not isolated incidents. Last year alone, 5,500 incidents were recorded under the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) Act 2021, which I took through Parliament. That was a 46 per cent increase in the rise of such incidents.
Does the First Minister agree that greater priority needs to be given to community and response policing so that such crimes can be treated with the expediency and seriousness that they undoubtedly deserve? Perhaps above all else, at this time of year, when many of us will be using the shops, does he agree with the campaign that is being run by the Scottish Retail Consortium and USDAW to urge the public to treat retail workers with kindness at Christmas?
We should treat retail workers with kindness 365 days a year. At the root of the issue that Mr Johnson raises is criminal conduct and the fact that people are not behaving appropriately. Whether that is about criminal conduct or disrespect to retail workers, it is part of the same pattern. I agree with the sentiments that Mr Johnson expresses.
The Government has put £3 million into the budget as a specific intervention to tackle retail crime, which will be taken forward as a partnership between the retail sector and the police. That will be in addition to an investment of a record £1.62 billion next year for policing, which is an increase of £70 million on 2024-25 and which I think provides the resources for effective community policing. I am advised on that point by the chief constable of Police Scotland.
All that we need to do is pass the budget. I leave Mr Johnson that message and clarion call to support the Government so that we can get on with tackling the legitimate issue that he puts to me by ensuring that the Government’s budget is passed in February.
That concludes First Minister’s question time.
12:46 Meeting suspended.Air ais
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