Part of Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 22 May 2024.
Tom Arthur
Scottish National Party
I would not describe any colleagues in the chamber as extremists. That is an important point that I want to put on the record.
As the member will be aware, we face an exceptionally challenging set of fiscal circumstances. Because of cumulative decisions that have been taken about the Scottish budget, we have £1.5 billion more in revenue to spend on public services—to invest in our health service, local government, the criminal justice system, enterprise agencies and others—that we simply would not have had if we had followed the UK Government’s policies.
We recognise that it is important to have a balanced and proportionate tax policy, and we recognise the importance of ensuring that Scotland remains an attractive destination for those who are on high salaries. I am sure that the member will welcome the recently published data and analysis that show net positive migration to Scotland from the rest of the UK, and that is across all tax bands in the most recent year for which we have data.
We absolutely recognise the importance of economic growth and—
Question Time is an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to ask Government Ministers questions. These questions are asked in the Chamber itself and are known as Oral Questions. Members may also put down Written Questions. In the House of Commons, Question Time takes place for an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after Prayers. The different Government Departments answer questions according to a rota and the questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the Government Department concerned. In the House of Lords up to four questions may be asked of the Government at the beginning of each day's business. They are known as 'starred questions' because they are marked with a star on the Order Paper. Questions may also be asked at the end of each day's business and these may include a short debate. They are known as 'unstarred questions' and are less frequent. Questions in both Houses must be written down in advance and put on the agenda and both Houses have methods for selecting the questions that will be asked. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P1 at the UK Parliament site.
