Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Official Report 1276KB pdf

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

The next item of business is consideration of Parliamentary Bureau motion S6M-07644, on approval of a Scottish statutory instrument.

I ask George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, to move the motion.

Motion moved,

That the Parliament agrees that the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (additional amount: transactions relating to second homes etc.) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2022 (SSI 2022/375) be approved.—[George Adam]

Thank you. I call Daniel Johnson.

I would like to make a brief comment about this SSI, which has to do with the increase in the additional dwelling supplement. Although Labour broadly supports the SSI, I would like to comment on the impact that it has on local authorities.

Ultimately, local authorities being liable to pay additional dwelling supplement runs contrary to our intention to increase the stock of housing available for social rent. Indeed, it is a case of one part of the public sector being levied and paying to another—it is not even that it has a cost to public finances. Those arguments were rehearsed when the matter came before the Finance and Public Administration Committee.

However, I ask the minister to reflect on that. The initiative has been consulted on, and I ask the Scottish Government to bring forward an exemption for local authorities so that they can maximise the funds that they have available for bringing housing into the social rented sector, which is particularly important for areas that have limited land for development. I ask the minister to bring forward proposals at the earliest opportunity.

This SSI increases the rate of the additional dwelling supplement from 4 per cent to 6 per cent with effect from 16 December 2022. That change is intended to further protect opportunities for first-time buyers and home movers by helping them to compete with buy-to-let investors and second home owners. It is also forecast to raise much-needed revenue at a time when public finances are under significant pressure.

The Scottish Fiscal Commission estimates that increasing the rate will result in an additional £34 million being raised from the ADS next financial year. Members have raised concerns about the potential impact of the measure on a range of issues, and I note the points that Daniel Johnson makes. I wish to reassure him, as I set out at the Finance and Public Administration Committee, that we are considering very carefully the evidence that was brought forward as part of our ADS review, including on the measures that pertain to local government, which he raised. We will publish the outcome of that review and the next steps shortly.

The question on the motion will be put at decision time.

The next item of business is consideration of Parliamentary Bureau motion S6M-07645, on approval of an SSI, and Parliamentary Bureau motion S6M-07646, on designation of a lead committee.

I ask George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, to move the motions.

Motions moved,

That the Parliament agrees that the Dentists, Dental Care Professionals, Nurses, Nursing Associates and Midwives (International Registrations) Order 2022 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament agrees that the Education, Children and Young People Committee be designated as the lead committee, and that the Criminal Justice Committee be designated as a secondary committee, in consideration of the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill at stage 1.—[George Adam]

The question on those motions will be put at decision time.