Meeting of the Parliament

Time for Reflection William More, Head of Operations in Scotland, Aid to the Church in Need (UK) followed by Topical Questions Murdo Fraser S6T-02197 1. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported comments from the Institute for Fiscal Studies that its income tax increases on the highest earners may have reduced the revenue raised. followed by Scottish Government Debate: The Impact of the UK Government’s Budget on Scotland’s Rural Economy Mairi Gougeon S6M-15508 That the Parliament is disappointed that the Chancellor of the Exchequer chose not to work with the Scottish Government before her Budget on 30 October 2024, nor to consult with farmers, crofters and other rural stakeholders about the Budget's effects on Scotland’s rural economy, including breaking the vital link between funding for Scotland's farmers and its land mass, and the changes to agricultural property relief, which will affect succession planning in farms throughout Scotland; is concerned at the apparent failure of the UK Government to fully assess the impacts of those budget changes on Scotland’s rural economy or to publish any such assessments, and calls on the UK Government to urgently do so. Jamie Halcro Johnston S6M-15508.2 As an amendment to motion S6M-15508 in the name of Mairi Gougeon (The Impact of the UK Government’s Budget on Scotland’s Rural Economy), insert at end “; recognises that ring-fenced agriculture funding has been delivered by previous UK administrations for over 50 years; urges both the UK and Scottish governments to work together to ensure certainty for Scotland’s farmers, crofters and rural stakeholders by delivering multi-year ring-fenced funding for agriculture, and calls on the Scottish Government to ensure that all agriculture funding is allocated to the sector and not diverted for use in other portfolio areas.” Colin Smyth S6M-15508.1 As an amendment to motion S6M-15508 in the name of Mairi Gougeon (The Impact of the UK Government’s Budget on Scotland’s Rural Economy), leave out from “is disappointed” to end and insert “welcomes the increase to the Scottish devolved budget of £1.5 billion in 2024-25 and £3.4 billion next year, which will deliver the highest ever devolved budget settlement of £47.7 billion in 2025-26 as a result of the UK Government’s Budget; agrees that the Scottish Government should use the record devolved settlement in the forthcoming Scottish Budget to ensure fair funding to Scotland’s farmers and crofters to support food security, sustainable farming and environmental restoration, and to invest in Scotland’s public services and infrastructure, recognising the long-term challenges facing rural and island communities in housing, public transport, including ferries, education, health and social care, poverty and depopulation, and further agrees that restoring public finances is vital to provide certainty and security of funding for Scotland’s farmers and crofters and to support Scotland’s rural and island communities.” followed by Decision Time followed by Members' Business — S6M-13967 Gordon MacDonald: Celebrating the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership That the Parliament celebrates the work of the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership (SEHP) and its reported success in bringing almost 11,000 long-term empty properties back into use since its establishment in 2010; understands that 1,875 long-term empty homes were brought back into use in 2023-24 alone, a record annual figure for the partnership; recognises the role of the SEHP in facilitating collaborative work between Shelter Scotland, local authorities and the Scottish Government, which it understands has invested over £3.7 million in the partnership to date; notes the view that joint efforts to bring long-term empty properties back into use must continue, with over 46,000 properties reportedly still identified as empty or void across Scotland, including 7,200 in the City of Edinburgh Council area; further notes the belief that initiatives such as a reduction in VAT by the UK Government for repairs and improvements could facilitate the investment required to support households into a further 46,000 short-term unoccupied and vacant homes, whether council home voids, housing association stock awaiting repairs, or private properties lying empty; believes that SEHP’s recent milestone is a vital step towards achieving the Scottish Government's ambition to tackle the housing emergency and provide a further 110,000 affordable homes by 2032; understands that over 131,000 social and affordable homes have been provided by Scottish National Party administrations since 2007 and that this is the highest figure per head of population in the UK; further understands that more than 21,000 homes have already been delivered against the 2032 target; highlights that over £600 million is reportedly being committed to the Affordable Housing Supply Programme in 2024-25, despite what it sees as unprecedented pressure on Scotland’s public finances as a result of rising costs and the budgetary decisions of the UK Government, and notes the calls on the UK Government to use its upcoming Budget to reverse what it sees as harmful cuts to Scotland’s capital funding allocation, to enable the Scottish Government to invest further in the provision of warm, affordable housing for all.