To ask the Scottish Government when councillors’ pay is expected to rise. (S6O-03558)

Councillors received an uplift of 6.2 per cent in April 2024, in line with the 2017 agreement with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to annually uprate councillor remuneration. Scottish ministers are considering the recommendations that are contained in the report that the Scottish local authorities remuneration committee published earlier this year and will respond to that in due course.

MPs are paid £91,000 a year, we are paid £72,000 a year and councillors get something like £21,000 a year. That seems a bit out of line. Councillors whom I know work just as hard as most MSPs, put in the hours and make major decisions. Does the cabinet secretary agree that there is a bit of an inconsistency there?

I recognise John Mason’s point that councillors play a vital role in local communities and decision making across local authorities. I am grateful for all their contributions.

I am currently considering SLARC’s report in which it sets out its recommended remuneration rates for councillors, which reflect changing roles and responsibilities. It is important that there is due diligence and due consideration is given to the report. As I said, we will publish our response in due course. However, we want to ensure that we make being a councillor an attractive proposition, not just for current councillors but for future generations of councillors.

On the question of women’s representation in councils, Councillor Shona Morrison, who is the president of COSLA, said:

“it always comes down to remuneration. That is the biggest barrier.”—[Official Report, Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee, 28 May 2024; c 38.]

Does the cabinet secretary agree with that assessment? What more is the Scottish Government doing to increase female representation in councils?

I agree with Pam Gosal that remuneration is part of the picture when it comes to attracting more women into politics generally, whether that is in local government, in the Scottish Parliament or elsewhere.

However, culture also has a role to play. I know that many women whom I have tried to encourage to stand look at our political environment and are put off by it. We all have a job to do to encourage more women into politics at whatever level.