That the Parliament is concerned at the reported statement by the Minister for External Affairs and International Development at the Doha Forum on 21 May 2013 that “even at the moment, the United Kingdom Government is wanting the UK to leave the European Union”; believes that this is neither a true nor accurate representation of UK Government policy; is concerned at the implications for Scottish and UK business at what it believes is a false impression being made on an international stage, and calls on the Scottish Government to review the way in which it conducts its international relations so that audiences, whether domestic or international, can have confidence that its ministers are giving an accurate and honest statement of the position of other governments.
Current Status:
That the Parliament is concerned at the reported statement by the Minister for External Affairs and International Development at the Doha Forum on 21 May 2013 that “even at the moment, the United Kingdom Government is wanting the UK to leave the European Union”; believes that this is neither a true nor accurate representation of UK Government policy; is concerned at the implications for Scottish and UK business at what it believes is a false impression being made on an international stage, and calls on the Scottish Government to review the way in which it conducts its international relations so that audiences, whether domestic or international, can have confidence that its ministers are giving an accurate and honest statement of the position of other governments.
Supported by: Alex Fergusson
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As an amendment to motion S4M-06225 in the name of John Swinney (Universal Services), leave out from "confirms" to end and insert “recognises the progress being made on cutting the deficit and placing the public finances on a sustainable footing; welcomes help for households in the UK budget, including the biggest ever rise in the income tax threshold, taking 186,000 Scots out of income tax altogether and cutting it by £600 for over two million more, and help with childcare costs for around 210,000 families in Scotland; further recognises the fiscal and demographic challenges facing governments and parliaments across the world and the importance of public service reform; believes that a multi-dimensional approach is required whereby the wider social, economic and environmental benefits from spending on universal services are always taken into account in decision-making, and supports the extension of free childcare to two-year-olds in Scotland to match proposals in the rest of the UK.”
Current Status:
As an amendment to motion S4M-06225 in the name of John Swinney (Universal Services), leave out from "confirms" to end and insert “recognises the progress being made on cutting the deficit and placing the public finances on a sustainable footing; welcomes help for households in the UK budget, including the biggest ever rise in the income tax threshold, taking 186,000 Scots out of income tax altogether and cutting it by £600 for over two million more, and help with childcare costs for around 210,000 families in Scotland; further recognises the fiscal and demographic challenges facing governments and parliaments across the world and the importance of public service reform; believes that a multi-dimensional approach is required whereby the wider social, economic and environmental benefits from spending on universal services are always taken into account in decision-making, and supports the extension of free childcare to two-year-olds in Scotland to match proposals in the rest of the UK.”
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16/04/2013
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That the Parliament welcomes the increase in the personal allowance to £9,440 taking place on 6 April 2013; understands that this is the largest rise in the personal allowance ever and that it will mean that 2.2 million basic rate taxpayers in Scotland will see their income tax cut for the third year in a row, bringing the total income tax cut since 2010 to £600 per year; further understands that 186,000 of the lowest earners will have been lifted out of paying any income tax altogether, and looks forward to the personal allowance rising further to £10,000 in April 2014.
Current Status:
That the Parliament welcomes the increase in the personal allowance to £9,440 taking place on 6 April 2013; understands that this is the largest rise in the personal allowance ever and that it will mean that 2.2 million basic rate taxpayers in Scotland will see their income tax cut for the third year in a row, bringing the total income tax cut since 2010 to £600 per year; further understands that 186,000 of the lowest earners will have been lifted out of paying any income tax altogether, and looks forward to the personal allowance rising further to £10,000 in April 2014.
Current Status: Fallen on 18/06/2013
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As an amendment to motion S4M-06016 in the name of John Swinney (Scotland’s Financial Strength), leave out from “report” to end and insert, “notes in particular the volatility of oil and gas revenues over the last four years, annual changes in which can exceed half the entire cost of the NHS in Scotland; welcomes the strength of the oil and gas industry, including its tens of thousands of jobs in Scotland, all within the UK framework; is disappointed that the Scottish Government continues to delay the publication of an overall assessment of the cost of its policies for an independent Scotland and is disappointed that the Fiscal Commission Working Group did not address this; notes that the Expert Working Group on Welfare and Constitutional Reform has been provided with analysis from Scottish Government officials showing that the welfare costs for Scotland will increase by £1.9bn from the current year to 2017-18; believes that it should be a priority for the Scottish Government, upon receipt of the report of the Expert Working Group on Welfare and Constitutional Reform to publish, before the summer recess, a statement showing the costs of its promises to increase spending and its commitments to reduce taxes; believes that the people of Scotland deserve straight answers to the overall, fundamental question of affordability rather than being strung along by a series of ad hoc commitments deigned to appeal to particular groups yet divorced from any analysis of overall affordability."
Current Status:
As an amendment to motion S4M-06016 in the name of John Swinney (Scotland’s Financial Strength), leave out from “report” to end and insert, “notes in particular the volatility of oil and gas revenues over the last four years, annual changes in which can exceed half the entire cost of the NHS in Scotland; welcomes the strength of the oil and gas industry, including its tens of thousands of jobs in Scotland, all within the UK framework; is disappointed that the Scottish Government continues to delay the publication of an overall assessment of the cost of its policies for an independent Scotland and is disappointed that the Fiscal Commission Working Group did not address this; notes that the Expert Working Group on Welfare and Constitutional Reform has been provided with analysis from Scottish Government officials showing that the welfare costs for Scotland will increase by £1.9bn from the current year to 2017-18; believes that it should be a priority for the Scottish Government, upon receipt of the report of the Expert Working Group on Welfare and Constitutional Reform to publish, before the summer recess, a statement showing the costs of its promises to increase spending and its commitments to reduce taxes; believes that the people of Scotland deserve straight answers to the overall, fundamental question of affordability rather than being strung along by a series of ad hoc commitments deigned to appeal to particular groups yet divorced from any analysis of overall affordability."
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21/03/2013
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As an amendment to motion S4M-05981 in the name of Alex Salmond (10 Years on from the Invasion of Iraq), after "UN resolution" insert "; regrets the decision of the Labour government, with the support of the Conservatives, to press ahead with the invasion despite considerable opposition and many warnings about the danger of armed conflict; is of the view that the intervention was illegal under international law".
Current Status:
As an amendment to motion S4M-05981 in the name of Alex Salmond (10 Years on from the Invasion of Iraq), after "UN resolution" insert "; regrets the decision of the Labour government, with the support of the Conservatives, to press ahead with the invasion despite considerable opposition and many warnings about the danger of armed conflict; is of the view that the intervention was illegal under international law".
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19/03/2013
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As an amendment to motion S4M-05521 in the name of Nicola Sturgeon (Child Benefit), leave out from "with concern" to end and insert “the position on child benefit in the UK; further notes that the Scottish Government has established a working group to advise it on what welfare policies it would be able to afford in the event of independence; believes that it would be sensible for people in Scotland to wait for the conclusion of that review before accepting any assurances from Scottish ministers on this matter; notes that statements have been made by Scottish Government ministers and supporters implying that a full £2.5 billion will be added to the welfare and benefits bill of Scotland after independence; notes that this figure does not include any costing for additional welfare benefits to be recommended for groups such as carers; awaits with interest the details on how such a bill and the additions will be accommodated within the estimated resources of an independent Scotland; in particular, waits to see if an immediate priority will be set out to restore child benefit to those earning over £60,000 in an independent Scotland; believes that, if the full figure of £2.5 billion is not part of costed plans, that would imply that some welfare changes are not proposed for reversal and believes that those should be clearly set out by the expert group, and further notes that the UK Government will have cut the tax bill for a family of two people on modest incomes by around £5,000 over the period.”
Current Status:
As an amendment to motion S4M-05521 in the name of Nicola Sturgeon (Child Benefit), leave out from "with concern" to end and insert “the position on child benefit in the UK; further notes that the Scottish Government has established a working group to advise it on what welfare policies it would be able to afford in the event of independence; believes that it would be sensible for people in Scotland to wait for the conclusion of that review before accepting any assurances from Scottish ministers on this matter; notes that statements have been made by Scottish Government ministers and supporters implying that a full £2.5 billion will be added to the welfare and benefits bill of Scotland after independence; notes that this figure does not include any costing for additional welfare benefits to be recommended for groups such as carers; awaits with interest the details on how such a bill and the additions will be accommodated within the estimated resources of an independent Scotland; in particular, waits to see if an immediate priority will be set out to restore child benefit to those earning over £60,000 in an independent Scotland; believes that, if the full figure of £2.5 billion is not part of costed plans, that would imply that some welfare changes are not proposed for reversal and believes that those should be clearly set out by the expert group, and further notes that the UK Government will have cut the tax bill for a family of two people on modest incomes by around £5,000 over the period.”
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31/01/2013
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That the Parliament notes with concern the threat to the future of the Byre Theatre in St Andrews; considers that the Byre has a long and rich history stretching back to the 1930s; welcomes news of discussions between Fife Council and Creative Scotland on a possible solution to the funding problems, and urges the local community and beyond to rally in favour of the theatre.
Current Status:
That the Parliament notes with concern the threat to the future of the Byre Theatre in St Andrews; considers that the Byre has a long and rich history stretching back to the 1930s; welcomes news of discussions between Fife Council and Creative Scotland on a possible solution to the funding problems, and urges the local community and beyond to rally in favour of the theatre.
Supported by: Jean Urquhart, Stewart Maxwell
Current Status: Fallen on 08/05/2013
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As an amendment to motion S4M-04874 in the name of Keith Brown (Air Passenger Duty), leave out from “with concern” to end and insert “the debate around the future of air passenger duty (APD); agrees that APD should be a tax exercised at a Scottish level by the Parliament as part of a federal UK, with tax powers and responsibilities shared between different levels of government in the UK; notes that returning the level of APD to 2007 levels as discussed in a recent York Aviation report would result in a loss of around £90 million to the Scottish Government, and calls on those who advocate such a change to set out their proposals to reduce public spending to match the reduction in tax receipts.”
Current Status:
As an amendment to motion S4M-04874 in the name of Keith Brown (Air Passenger Duty), leave out from “with concern” to end and insert “the debate around the future of air passenger duty (APD); agrees that APD should be a tax exercised at a Scottish level by the Parliament as part of a federal UK, with tax powers and responsibilities shared between different levels of government in the UK; notes that returning the level of APD to 2007 levels as discussed in a recent York Aviation report would result in a loss of around £90 million to the Scottish Government, and calls on those who advocate such a change to set out their proposals to reduce public spending to match the reduction in tax receipts.”
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20/11/2012
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As an amendment to motion S4M-04778 in the name of Alex Neil (Universal Benefits), leave out from "and believes" to end and insert “; notes that these were all achieved and sustained within the United Kingdom, before and after devolution in 1999; believes that the wider social benefits from spending on universal benefits should always be taken into account in decision-making, and supports the extension of free childcare to 2-year-olds in Scotland to match proposals in the rest of the UK.”
Current Status:
As an amendment to motion S4M-04778 in the name of Alex Neil (Universal Benefits), leave out from "and believes" to end and insert “; notes that these were all achieved and sustained within the United Kingdom, before and after devolution in 1999; believes that the wider social benefits from spending on universal benefits should always be taken into account in decision-making, and supports the extension of free childcare to 2-year-olds in Scotland to match proposals in the rest of the UK.”
Current Status: Fallen on 13/11/2012
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As an amendment to motion S4M-04719 in the name of Roseanna Cunningham (Road to Recovery, Drugs Strategy), insert at end “; recognises the harm reduction value of opiate replacement therapies as part of the recovery strategy, particularly in terms of reducing the transmission of serious blood-borne viruses such as HIV and hepatitis C, and considers it vital that a wide range of treatment options are available to ensure that professionals are able to offer a package of treatment and support that is person-centred and tailored to the specific needs and aspirations of the individual."
Current Status:
As an amendment to motion S4M-04719 in the name of Roseanna Cunningham (Road to Recovery, Drugs Strategy), insert at end “; recognises the harm reduction value of opiate replacement therapies as part of the recovery strategy, particularly in terms of reducing the transmission of serious blood-borne viruses such as HIV and hepatitis C, and considers it vital that a wide range of treatment options are available to ensure that professionals are able to offer a package of treatment and support that is person-centred and tailored to the specific needs and aspirations of the individual."
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 08/11/2012
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