Budget (Scotland) (No 4) Bill: Stage 3

Part of the debate – in the Scottish Parliament at 3:59 pm on 3 February 2010.

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Photo of Patrick Harvie Patrick Harvie Green 3:59, 3 February 2010

Three minutes? Thank you, Presiding Officer.

Throughout the process, as under the previous Administration, we have been clear in our criticisms of the SNP budget and about the progress that is needed if we are to be able to support it. I have argued that, as introduced, it appeared to have been written before the economic recession and even before the adoption of climate change targets, but we have given clarity on what is needed.

At stage 1, I was pleased to welcome the announcement of a £10 million fund for the marine renewables sector—something that I hope every political party is able to support. However, we have also argued, as we did last year, that a universal national insulation programme is—and was then—the cheapest, quickest and easiest way to secure carbon cuts, cut people's fuel bills and protect jobs in a vulnerable sector. I am pleased to say that there is progress, not only on the scale of the insulation scheme that the Government announced last year, which in 2010-11 will be spending £21 million, given the rollover of underspend from the current year, but in an additional £10 million scheme, working on the universal basis for which we have consistently argued. There have been far too many years of means-tested schemes that target and miss those in fuel poverty.

In addition, there is the boiler scrappage scheme, which must not be a simple carbon copy of the UK scheme. It must achieve the same objectives but be tailored to fit with and complement the existing money being spent on boilers in Scotland.

I will say something about two of the asks from other political parties. An independent budget review is a fine idea, but it must be a participative process that allows people to say for themselves what is important in public services. It should not simply be an exercise by bean-counting economists.

As for transparency, we already have freedom of information legislation. If we need to improve it to prevent the Government from avoiding it, we can. We have the Parliament's Finance committee and the SPICe financial scrutiny unit. We also have audit machinery. I do not see what the requirement for publication adds beyond, perhaps, a string of easy headlines for the Daily Mail, the Daily Express and others, especially the Conservatives, who seem to be licking their chops in anticipation of those fun, fun, cuts to come in public services.

Finally, I have never been the biggest fan of GARL, although I have been willing to work with the Labour Party to see what could be done. There is, however, a great big bridge-shaped elephant in the room. I have said it before and I will say it again. GARL will not be the last—