Part of Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at 3:03 pm on 30 October 2024.
As I said, there is pressure on all public services. Local government has an increased share of the overall discretionary spend, but I recognise the pressure on services. We will look at that, along with all the other priorities for the budget for 2025-26. We are having regular dialogue with COSLA and, indeed, individual local authorities, in the course of which many of those points are made. I am more than happy to discuss the matter with others across the Parliament. If Katy Clark wants to meet me, I extend to her the same offer that I extended to Alex Rowley.