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MSPs to debate Scottish government budget timetable Row over scrutiny as Scots budget delayed until December
(about 7 hours later)
MSPs are to debate the Scottish government's budget timetable after the finance committee raised concerns about the delayed draft of spending plans. Scotland's finance secretary has pledged to give more information to the finance committee to scrutinise his delayed draft budget.
Finance Secretary Derek Mackay wants to hold off on publishing his first draft budget until December, after the chancellor's Autumn statement. Derek Mackay was accused of "showing contempt for parliament" during a fiery debate on the budget timetable.
However finance committee convener Bruce Crawford warned this did not leave MSPs much time for scrutiny. The finance committee wants Mr Mackay to hand over detailed planning information ahead of the budget, which will be published on 15 December.
A "fundamental" review of the budget process has also been established. Mr Mackay said he would publish some extra "high level" information.
MSPs will now debate the matter in the chamber, and will vote on a motion put forward by Mr Crawford. However opposition members said he had been "ambiguous" and had not been clear about what information would actually be provided.
The SNP MSP's motion simply asks that parliament "notes the timetable for the Scottish government's draft budget" for the 2017/18 financial year. A "fundamental" review of the budget process has also been established in light of Holyrood's new fiscal powers.
However, in a letter to Mr Mackay, the former cabinet minister said he was "concerned at the amount of time which will be available for parliamentary scrutiny after the draft budget is published" in December. Mr Mackay has delayed publication of his first set of spending plans until after the Chancellor's Autumn Statement, which he said would make a major difference to the funds available to the Scottish government.
He pointed out that "here needs to be a recognition that sufficient time is ordinarily allowed for robust parliamentary scrutiny". The finance committee, led by SNP member Bruce Crawford, brought forward the chamber debate to voice "concern" at how much time they would have to scrutinise spending plans before they are voted on by MSPs.
Mr Crawford also said it was "unacceptable" that Mr Mackay was not prepared to give the committee any scenario planning information as an indication of how the budget will unfold, despite the finance secretary previously telling them he would hand over as much of this information has he could. He said it was "unacceptable" that Mr Mackay had refused to hand over any scenario planning information as an indication of how the budget may unfold, despite having previously told the committee that he would give them as much information as possible.
All opposition MSPs support Mr Crawford's position, and have urged the government to hand over the planning information. All opposition MSPs backed Mr Crawford on this point, signing up to support a motion from Patrick Harvie "urging" the government to put the information in the public domain.
BBC Scotland understands Mr Mackay could be prepared to give the committee more advance information to aid budget scrutiny. During the debate, Mr Harvie said opposition members had chosen not to force a vote on the matter, but worried that Mr Mackay "kept using the same language" as he did when previously writing to the committee.
Mr Mackay has argued that economic uncertainty caused by the UK's vote to leave the EU, coupled with Holyrood's new fiscal powers, means it would be best to delay his budget draft until after Chancellor Philip Hammond's Autumn statement on 23 November. The finance secretary replied: "What parliament asked for was high level scenario planning, and that's what I've said I'll provide.
He told the committee: "Publishing an inaccurate budget would be the wrong thing to do. The starting position is about to change, and having such intense scrutiny on a budget that would be subject to so much change because of the variables would be the wrong approach." "I've repeatedly said I won't publish a draft budget [before the Autumn Statement], I can't publish a credible draft budget or a number of draft budgets. But I will publish that scenario information that I've pledged to in keeping with what I've said to committee."
The 2016/17 budget was also published on a delayed schedule due to the UK spending review. However Mr Crawford said that this and the current delay "should not be viewed as a precedent for future years". 'Offering a compromise'
Opposition parties, who will have the chance to contribute during the debate, have welcomed the move. However, opposition members said Mr Mackay was still not being clear about what information he would actually provide.
The Scottish Conservatives said it was "essential" there was time to properly examine spending plans, while Scottish Labour said it would be "completely unacceptable" for the government to delay all scrutiny until December. Labour's James Kelly, who said the finance secretary had provided "seven minutes of waffle" in the debate, said MSPs were "still no further forward" with budget scrutiny.
Scottish Green co-convenor Patrick Harvie has lodged a motion of his own, agreeing with the committee and "urging" the Scottish government to put its scenario planning information into the public domain. Conservative member Alex Johnstone said it would "take some further time" to work out exactly what Mr Mackay was offering the committee.
This motion won support from every single opposition MSP, meaning a majority of members support Mr Crawford's committee - although it is not scheduled for debate. He said the committee was "offering a compromise" to the finance secretary, noting that "it appears he has not yet accepted that compromise".
Mr Harvie said that opposition members "could have forced a vote", but said that "for many it's about a better budget process, not engineering a government defeat for the sake of it". Mr Harvie said he was disappointed at the "ambiguous stance" Mr Mackay had taken, saying he was "being quite unclear" about what information he would provide.
Mr Mackay had earlier said he would "honour the commitment" he had previously given about "sharing as much information as I possibly can".
He said he could not produce a draft budget without having all of the information that will come from the Autumn Statement.
He added: "I will continue to work constructively with the finance committee and share as much information as I can to give as much certainty as I can, but that doesn't mean we can produce a draft budget."
Fellow SNP member Kate Forbes said it would be "downright irresponsible" for the government to publish detailed budget figures prior to the Autumn Statement.
'Showing contempt'
Opposition MSPs reacted angrily to Mr Mackay's statements, with several accusing him of "showing contempt" for parliament's role in budget scrutiny.
Tory member Murdo Fraser said he "regrets very much" that Mr Mackay had chosen to take a "brazen" approach to the debate, urging him to "keep his word" and hand over planning information.
He added: "To do otherwise, frankly, is to show contempt both for the work of this parliament and the finance committee."
This was quickly echoed by Labour leader Kezia Dugdale, who said Mr Mackay's budget timetable "will severely limit the ability of the parliament's committee's to scrutinise the budget properly".
She added: "In addition, by refusing to publish as much information as possible in advance of the publication of the draft budget later this year, Derek Mackay is treating this parliament with contempt, particularly since he is going back on a promise that he has previously made to this parliament."
Graham Simpson said Mr Mackay could "bleat all he likes about the Autumn Statement", calling it a "pathetic excuse" for delaying scrutiny, and fellow Tory member Adam Tomkins said Mr Mackay's plans were "profoundly disrespectful" of parliament.
Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said "it's come to something" when an SNP figure of Mr Crawford's figure called the government's approach "unacceptable".
However, SNP member James Dornan said other parties were "playing political games" over the budget, noting that the education committee he chairs is able to carry out some pre-budget scrutiny.
And Mr Mackay later told BBC Scotland that he had committed to giving the committee the extra scenario planning information requested, saying there was "room for consensus" on the issue.