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Donate to our crowdfunderRichard Lyle: No. I have no time. Has anyone checked what is being charged in some English councils? Members should go and check. The Scottish Government has been encouraging local authorities to take account of household budgets and keep increases at a flat 3 per cent.
Richard Lyle: No, I will not. Local authorities will be able to offset 2.2 per cent of their contribution to adult social services in the coming year, to help them to manage their budgets, while the £160 million of investment from the Scottish Government is protected. That means that if local authorities use their full tax powers, they will have £620 million more in the next financial year. Let me turn...
Richard Lyle: No—I had to listen to absolute rubbish from some members, and I want to come back at them with what I believe is the truth. The Scottish Government is protecting lower and middle-earning taxpayers and making the tax system fairer and more progressive. By taking a different approach from the rest of the UK, the Scottish Government will ensure that the Scottish tax system is more progressive...
Richard Lyle: Can the cabinet secretary confirm the increase in funding to front-line health services and explain what that will mean for general practices across Scotland?
Richard Lyle: As I am a member of the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee, it gives me great pleasure to take part in the debate. I support salmon farming in Scotland because it has potential for growth, because it is, in my opinion, sustainable and because of the contribution that it makes to our local communities. It is a Scottish industry that I want to see continue to grow and prosper. Salmon...
Richard Lyle: If the Tories really thought that this issue was important, they would have allocated more time for the debate. I will begin by reflecting on the wider issue, because fixed penalties for antisocial behaviour are part of the wider powers and activity that our police service delivers to keep our communities feeling safe. The SNP Government is utterly committed to that priority and supports that...
Richard Lyle: Every party in this Parliament, as well as the independent member, has supported this motion on the Holocaust. I thank the vast number of members who signed my motion, enabling the debate to take place, and every member who will speak in it, for their support. It is appreciated. Today, we commemorate a tragedy of the past, but I believe that the topic is completely relevant to the issues that...
Richard Lyle: What happened between 1999 and 2007? Why did the Labour-Liberal Executive not build the rail link?
Richard Lyle: What happened to the plan?
Richard Lyle: For the record, will the cabinet secretary confirm what Scotland’s GDP growth was predicted to be over the past year and what it has been?
Richard Lyle: Oh!
Richard Lyle: Will the cabinet secretary confirm how many carers are in receipt of the carers allowance supplement and by how much they are set to benefit ahead of this festive period?
Richard Lyle: 11. To ask the Scottish Government what authority the national health service has to stop family members visiting a patient in hospital. (S5O-02679)
Richard Lyle: One of my constituents has been trying to see their daughter in hospital for several months but has been stopped at the entrance to the ward and told that there is an on-going police investigation. They spoke to Police Scotland and were told that there was no investigation. I have written to the local health board about the case. I recognise the limitations of the minister’s response, but I...
Richard Lyle: Alex Cole-Hamilton had better get his submission in quick.
Richard Lyle: 14. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to mitigate the impact on universities and colleges in Scotland of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union. (S5O-02652)
Richard Lyle: Mike Kirby, the Scottish secretary of Unison, has said: “In the massive risk register associated with Brexit, the interests of EU nationals working across ... education, and delivering quality public services, require to be front and centre.” Does the minister agree that the senseless scrapping of important policies such as the post-study work visa will leave Scotland worse off?
Richard Lyle: I welcome the cabinet secretary’s comments. What percentage of the recent delays have been Network Rail’s responsibility? Will the cabinet secretary join me in calling on all parties in the chamber to campaign for Network Rail to be devolved to the Scottish Parliament?
Richard Lyle: It is an honour and privilege to speak in today’s debate. Veterans are true heroes who often receive less support than they deserve. We all understand the importance of veterans to our society, but it cannot be overstated. Perhaps no other choice is as difficult or noble as that of giving up the comfort of home, leaving loved ones and family behind and putting one’s life at risk for...
Richard Lyle: I thank Daniel Johnson for securing this members’ business debate on such an important issue. Tonight, I want to tell my constituent Kieran’s personal story. I have only four minutes to do so. Kieran attended mainstream primary in North Lanarkshire from primary 1 to P3. It was evident even then that he had social and emotional difficulties, and at times he struggled with slightly...