Part of the debate – in the Scottish Parliament at 4:11 pm on 3 February 2005.
Following on from the transport-based theme of Tommy
Everybody knows that if we were to redo public sector finance, we would not start from where we are now. Over the years, the settlement has been built up as a delicate balance between competing priorities. It takes account of new pressures as needs and lifestyles change and of costs that do not always rise in line with the retail price index or consumer price index. Although its standard indicators and distribution formulas are not perfect, I can inform Mr Sheridan that they at least take account of more than just population.
I congratulate the Executive. As one who formerly had a particular interest in local government finance—a few years ago, I might have been arguing from the other side of the fence—I can say that the system has changed beyond recognition from what I remember of it when I came into local government.