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Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

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

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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 23 December 2024
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Displaying 696 contributions

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Finance and Public Administration Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Meeting date: 16 January 2024

Jamie Halcro Johnston

Would you accept that it is quite difficult for stakeholders, such as those who are applying for grants and those for whom forestry is vital, to be confident that there is a consistent and considered response when there is investment one year and swingeing cuts the next?

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Meeting date: 16 January 2024

Jamie Halcro Johnston

Taking universities and local councils out of the equation and looking at those bodies over which you have more direct control, are we talking about tens of millions or hundreds of millions?

13:00  

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Meeting date: 16 January 2024

Jamie Halcro Johnston

You have made the commitment to the council tax freeze, so there is a responsibility for you to make it work.

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Meeting date: 16 January 2024

Jamie Halcro Johnston

Would you accept that you are asking them to do less and that, probably, fewer businesses will be helped?

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Meeting date: 9 January 2024

Jamie Halcro Johnston

Good morning to the panel. I was going to ask questions on economic growth, but we have covered that fairly well.

Very briefly, on the point that Ross Greer and others have raised, is there clarity from the Scottish Government on what this budget is trying to achieve? Has the Scottish Government explained its direction and ambitions? Where it has made cuts, has it explained why that was a priority in one year, but not this year? Mr Sousa talked about some of the inconsistencies, particularly around woodland grants. Is there enough of an explanation from the Scottish Government as to why some of those decisions have been made?

I will go to Professor Bell first.

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Meeting date: 9 January 2024

Jamie Halcro Johnston

Is that the case in the areas both where there are cuts and where there have been increases in investment? Is the Scottish Government better at saying, “This is what we want to do and we are putting money into this” than it is at justifying where cuts are made?

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Meeting date: 9 January 2024

Jamie Halcro Johnston

We know that too many of the people living in our island communities, particularly in Skye and in Orkney, are living in substandard accommodation. There is such a shortage of accommodation that people who want to live and work in such areas cannot live and work there. That is a really important issue.

11:30  

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Meeting date: 9 January 2024

Jamie Halcro Johnston

When I was on the Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee—I think that Michelle Thomson was on it as well—it held an inquiry into town centres and came up with some suggestions. The committees of the Parliament have repeatedly looked at our high streets and town centres and how we can make them sustainable. If we do not get it right, with regard to tax levels, support levels and some of the wider issues around access to town centres, in both this budget and others, then do our town centres and high streets have a future?

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Meeting date: 9 January 2024

Jamie Halcro Johnston

Obviously, the 75 per cent rates relief is also for retail. We have all seen, and it is becoming more noticeable, that more and more business spaces are becoming available on our high streets. I was speaking to some local businesspeople about the increases in their rents, which have gone up from around £12,000 to £18,000 for new leases. If increased support is not given to those retail businesses, what are your concerns for our high streets? That is a big issue for all MSPs.

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Meeting date: 9 January 2024

Jamie Halcro Johnston

As you mention that, I must obviously declare an interest as a partner in a farming business—but I think that your point is absolutely valid.