John Swinney MSP

That the Parliament supports the Scottish Government's approach to accelerating recovery, supporting long-term sustainable economic growth and boosting employment, as set out in the Government Economic Strategy, including the focus on growth sectors and growth markets; notes the UK’s double-dip recession and, in light of this, recognises the alternative approach pursued by the Scottish Government and its calls for an urgent economic stimulus from the UK Government in the form of shovel-ready projects; notes the focus of the Scottish Government and its agencies, Scottish Development International, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise in boosting international exports and securing international investment; recognises that growth sectors including food and drink, tourism, finance, life sciences, energy and low-carbon industries are performing well; welcomes the further actions that the Scottish Government is taking to ensure that Scotland continues to increase its international presence by pursuing opportunities in growing export markets and by continuing to attract substantial international inward investments.

That the Parliament supports the Scottish Government's approach to accelerating recovery, supporting long-term sustainable economic growth and boosting employment, as set out in the Government Economic Strategy, including the focus on growth sectors and growth markets; notes the UK’s double-dip recession and, in light of this, recognises the alternative approach pursued by the Scottish Government and its calls for an urgent economic stimulus from the UK Government in the form of shovel-ready projects; notes the focus of the Scottish Government and its agencies, Scottish Development International, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise in boosting international exports and securing international investment; recognises that growth sectors including food and drink, tourism, finance, life sciences, energy and low-carbon industries are performing well; welcomes the further actions that the Scottish Government is taking to ensure that Scotland continues to increase its international presence by pursuing opportunities in growing export markets and by continuing to attract substantial international inward investments.

That the Parliament, for the purposes of any Act of the Scottish Parliament resulting from the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Bill, agrees to any expenditure of a kind referred to in paragraph 3(b) of Rule 9.12 of the Parliament’s Standing Orders arising in consequence of the Act.

That the Parliament, for the purposes of any Act of the Scottish Parliament resulting from the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Bill, agrees to any expenditure of a kind referred to in paragraph 3(b) of Rule 9.12 of the Parliament’s Standing Orders arising in consequence of the Act.

That the Parliament is disappointed that the UK Budget is a missed opportunity to promote growth and deliver greater fairness; notes that the Treasury’s analysis shows that those on the lowest incomes have been hit disproportionately hard by the deficit reduction plans and that over 300,000 pensioners in Scotland will be adversely affected by the decision to abolish age-related income tax allowances in order to pay for tax breaks for the wealthy; welcomes the UK Government’s response to the Scottish Government’s calls for a package of measures to support the oil and gas sector, the provision of enhanced capital allowances for three of Scotland’s enterprise zones, funding for Edinburgh to become a super-connected city and the introduction of tax relief for the video games industry; disagrees however with the Chancellor’s decision not to provide funding for £300 million worth of shovel-ready capital projects, which could be taken forward immediately to support jobs, and notes that the Chancellor’s failure to deliver for Scotland demonstrates the importance of the Scottish Parliament having the full range of economic levers to deliver jobs, growth and fairness for the people of Scotland.

That the Parliament is disappointed that the UK Budget is a missed opportunity to promote growth and deliver greater fairness; notes that the Treasury’s analysis shows that those on the lowest incomes have been hit disproportionately hard by the deficit reduction plans and that over 300,000 pensioners in Scotland will be adversely affected by the decision to abolish age-related income tax allowances in order to pay for tax breaks for the wealthy; welcomes the UK Government’s response to the Scottish Government’s calls for a package of measures to support the oil and gas sector, the provision of enhanced capital allowances for three of Scotland’s enterprise zones, funding for Edinburgh to become a super-connected city and the introduction of tax relief for the video games industry; disagrees however with the Chancellor’s decision not to provide funding for £300 million worth of shovel-ready capital projects, which could be taken forward immediately to support jobs, and notes that the Chancellor’s failure to deliver for Scotland demonstrates the importance of the Scottish Parliament having the full range of economic levers to deliver jobs, growth and fairness for the people of Scotland.

That the Parliament, for the purposes of any Act of the Scottish Parliament resulting from the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill, agrees to any expenditure of a kind referred to in paragraph 3(b) of Rule 9.12 of the Parliament’s Standing Orders arising in consequence of the Act.

That the Parliament, for the purposes of any Act of the Scottish Parliament resulting from the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill, agrees to any expenditure of a kind referred to in paragraph 3(b) of Rule 9.12 of the Parliament’s Standing Orders arising in consequence of the Act.

That the Parliament agrees that the Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2012 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament agrees that the Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2012 [draft] be approved.