Skip to main content

Language: English / Gàidhlig

Loading…

Seòmar agus comataidhean

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

Criathragan Hide all filters

Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 17 March 2025
Select which types of business to include


Select level of detail in results

Displaying 2095 contributions

|

Public Audit Committee

Section 22 Report: “The 2022/23 audit of the Scottish Prison Service”

Meeting date: 14 March 2024

Willie Coffey

Is an attempt made to put the person close to where their family live?

Public Audit Committee

Section 22 Report: “The 2022/23 audit of the Scottish Prison Service”

Meeting date: 14 March 2024

Willie Coffey

Would you say that the person’s needs are being met, by and large, where they have been placed to carry out their sentence?

Public Audit Committee

“Investing in Scotland’s infrastructure”

Meeting date: 7 March 2024

Willie Coffey

So the current spending review period is coterminous with the general election cycle.

Public Audit Committee

“Investing in Scotland’s infrastructure”

Meeting date: 7 March 2024

Willie Coffey

Good morning. I have a slightly different perspective from that of Jamie Greene on the figures that were announced yesterday. Some of us certainly do not think that a £1 billion cut to Scotland’s capital budget is in any way encouraging, or that it is better news in comparison with the position last week. It represents a huge cut in the Scottish Government’s ability to carry out the programme that we have outlined today.

Alison Cumming said that

“the UK Government has not published ... spending plans beyond 2024-25.”

Why is that?

Public Audit Committee

“Investing in Scotland’s infrastructure”

Meeting date: 7 March 2024

Willie Coffey

I turn to Alyson Stafford. Is there any indication of whether we should expect those figures to change in the coming years? It is clear that we are facing a major event—a general election—this year.

As you and I know, and as everybody around the table knows, there are always discussions between current Governments and potential Governments that may be formed by other parties about spending intentions and commitments and so forth. Is there any indication that the picture may change?

Public Audit Committee

“Investing in Scotland’s infrastructure”

Meeting date: 7 March 2024

Willie Coffey

You mentioned financial transactions. Did you say that we are not expecting any in the coming period? That will impact on the housing programme, will it not?

Public Audit Committee

“Investing in Scotland’s infrastructure”

Meeting date: 7 March 2024

Willie Coffey

Alison Cumming, you set out clearly the way in which you approach changing circumstances. However, should the position change—you mentioned priorities, contractual commitments, health and safety commitments and so on—are we, as a Government, in a position to adapt to such changes in order to bring more projects or programmes into line? Is that the way in which we work, and is that how you advise ministers about what can and cannot be done if the financial picture improves in the coming years?

Public Audit Committee

“Investing in Scotland’s infrastructure”

Meeting date: 7 March 2024

Willie Coffey

For the benefit of the committee—and, I am sure, of everyone else—can you say where the financial transaction money comes from? What is the source of that?

Public Audit Committee

“Investing in Scotland’s infrastructure”

Meeting date: 7 March 2024

Willie Coffey

How have we hitherto deployed the financial transaction money? What have we done with it? Where has it principally been spent?

Public Audit Committee

“Investing in Scotland’s infrastructure”

Meeting date: 7 March 2024

Willie Coffey

My questions were as broad as I could make them, to retain the committee’s interest, with regard to the source of that funding, its impact and the general direction of the spend, as well as the clear impact that there will be if we do not have that funding.

I will leave it there, convener, and invite colleagues to ask their questions.