Holyrood packed a lot in to the last week of business before the recess, and MSPs have been made to work right up until the bell, but in an effort to embrace the Christmas spirit this week’s review is being offered up in the style of a festive film guide.
The set piece highlights in the chamber were Tuesday’s ministerial statement on Education, Wednesday’s opposition day (Scottish Conservatives) debate on the Economy, and Thursday offered up a double header with both FMQs and the Budget. So, here is what we made of it all.
Tuesday: Ministerial Statement or The Nightmare Before Christmas cert X – one to watch after the watershed once the kids are safely tucked up in bed. A stellar performance from the always dependable John Swinney (Perthshire North, SNP) fails to overcome the weak dialogue and less than stellar supporting cast. An uplifting tale of future opportunity and the promise of a better tomorrow struggles to shine through the shadow cast by its prequels. In an effort to rescue Scotland’s struggling education system the Deputy First Minister and Education Secretary (Swinney) bravely pledges radical reform by sticking with more of the same. Meanwhile evidence mounts up about the decline in quality and growing attainment gap. 3 ½ stars
Wednesday: opposition day debate or A Muppet Christmas Carol; Cert PG. A fine ensemble cast giving everyone a chance to do what they do best, sing some old tunes and roll out some predictable but much loved one-liners. So predictable were the views of the different players that you really don’t need them to be repeated here, and probably didn’t need them repeated there either. The final effect is a somewhat chaotic and disjointed effort with the total being just a little bit less than the sum of its parts. Needless to say none of the parties could bring themselves to agree on anything and after a series of votes the ultimate conclusion was there is no conclusion. There will be people who love watching this kind of thing but for the rest of us there is paint we need to watch drying. 2 Stars.
Thursday FMQs or Gremlins; Cert PG. You were warned not to get them wet or feed them after midnight but did you listen? Apparently the opposition parties think the SNP isn’t very good and the First Minister disagrees, adding that she doesn’t think they are very good and since she won the election in May that proves that she is right and they are wrong. Did I miss anything? The Presiding Officer’s changes to allow more backbench contributions did at least give the opportunity for a couple of important issues to be raised, Green MSP John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) raised the question of offshore oil transfers (nothing to do with us says FM), Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern, Lab) asked about funding for childcare places, according to the care inspectorate only 70% of 4 year olds receive it but the Scottish Government say it’s 98% - expect this to be the subject of a sequel early in the new year. Douglas Ross (Highlands and Islands, Conservative) asked about prisoner releases being scheduled on a Friday making access to services tricky and the FM agreed to look into the issue. 4 stars.
The Budget or Rogue One Cert PG. Premiering this week Derek MacKay (Renfrewshire North and West, SNP) makes his big screen debut in the role of Finance Minister. Like a new Bond taking over the franchise this first outing is going to be closely watched. After charming audiences with his competent handling of the Transport Minister role, particularly last year’s unexpected smash “The (Forth Road) Bridge”, expectations were high. Mr MacKay’s delivery was a little stiff during the statement but he really got into his stride during the Q&A. As always the proof of a budget comes after the detail is examined so we will see how it pans out. A few tips for budget watchers to help you get through the next one (or the reruns if you must). If there is a budget line increase, especially if it is an increase ahead of expectations, the detail will be highlighted in the budget statement. Where there is talk about “overall budgets” for a department going up there is probably some sleight of hand in there and certainly you should check detail; for example if you give a department huge new responsibilities and partially fund them you will definitely talk about the increase in the overall budget but not necessarily mention that you have at the same time cut key elements of the previous budget. If pressed to talk about cuts, say “I expect efficiencies to be made”. If you want people to avoid asking about something preface whatever you say with “as you already know” in the certain knowledge that most people will assume it is something they should remember but can’t and will be busy thinking about that while you carefully move on to the next thing.
Here is what do we know about the budget; the overall budget envelope from that nasty Westminster is being cut. Yet, aside from an increase in revenue from changes to higher rate tapers, there isn’t any new money. Councils will raise additional money from council tax payers as the freeze comes to an end so adding that into the total Local Government budget so you can make it look like more money is going in to local government while reducing the block grant.
On the Finance Minister’s Christmas naughty list – anyone earning more than about £40k will see their tax go up compared to what they would pay in rUK. Enterprise agencies and a few other soft targets see the need for efficiencies. Unsurprisingly, the efficiencies didn’t get a specific name check in the budget announcement unless mentioned by the opposition in the Q&A. On the nice list very definitely was education and specifically funds to support the “Pupil Equity Funding Programme” which both increase from a planned £100 million, to £120 million and will be found from Scottish Government resources rather than syphoned off the increases in council tax for higher bands as previously indicated, and an extra wedge of cash for the attainment challenge fund. Also making it onto the nice list was Health, but with most of the talk about the overall budget a look at the detail wouldn’t hurt. A hint of the possibility of a deal to be done with the Greens came with a promise of extra cash for domestic energy efficiency. All told a fairly convincing performance by McKay but, with scope for growing into the job in the coming years. 4 Stars.
Not headlining this week but counting an extended run; Trains, Planes and Automobiles Cert U (but mostly trains and mostly running late). Photogenic Minister for Transport and the Islands Humza Yousaf (Glasgow Pollock, SNP) will be hoping that the distraction of bigger stories and the festive holidays will give him time to turn the train around. The budget gives him a little win of £3 million in additional subsidy for rail fares trumping Labour’s call for a fare freeze for next year.
Happily that’s it for another year in the Holyrood multiplex. Have a lovely holiday.