Spending Review 2025 Scottish Public Services 2025-07-09
2025-07-09
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP references the UK Labour Government's delivery of a historic budget for Scotland, noting that despite this large funding increase, there has been no corresponding improvement in public service provision under the SNP.
This UK Labour Government are delivering the largest budgetary settlement in the history of devolution, with an extra £9.1 billion to invest in Scottish public services, yet the SNP Scottish Government continue to squander opportunity after opportunity and waste the public’s money. Will he join me in urging the SNP Scottish Government to get a grip and invest in projects that matter to our communities, such as the East Calder medical centre, which has not materialised after SNP dither and delay?
I absolutely join my hon. Friend in that call, and I pay tribute to his tenacious campaigning to see East Calder’s new medical centre delivered. I am 10,000 GP places short in my own constituency, and the SNP needs to take that seriously. The spending review generated £5.8 billion in health-related Barnett consequentials for Scotland.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP expresses concern over proposed cuts to the Cumbernauld fire station, which she believes will undermine its ability to respond effectively to incidents in one of Scotland's largest towns.
I have previously praised in this Chamber the efforts of the fire and rescue service in responding to more than one major incident in Cumbernauld. Both my constituents and I are therefore concerned that the proposed cuts to Cumbernauld fire station will undermine its ability to respond to incidents and put lives at risk. Will the Secretary of State make representations to the Scottish Government to invest in fire services in one of Scotland’s largest towns?
My hon. Friend quite rightly speaks out against the cuts to Cumbernauld fire station, which sadly is just one example of the SNP’s dangerous mismanagement of Scotland’s fire services, as the Fire Brigades Union in Scotland told me just last month.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The question references voting against the two-child cap policy, pointing out that UK Departments are receiving larger spending increases than the Scottish Government.
If there is cash to go around and UK Departments are getting bigger spending increases than the Scottish Government, why will he not prioritise child poverty? The Child Poverty Action Group described getting rid of the two-child cap as “the most cost-effective way” to cut child poverty. It was described by the Pensions Minister as “immoral”. The Cabinet Office’s recent report “Tackling Child Poverty” stated: There is a lot we can learn from action already being taken in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Will the Secretary of State make scrapping the two-child poverty cap a priority, or will he insist on failed Tory policies?
What we have done as a Government is a pay rise for 200,000 Scots, day one rights for sick leave and parental leave and £150 off energy bills for more than half a million Scottish households, and we have banned exploitative zero-hours contracts. There are 10,000 children in Scotland every single night going to bed without a home. That is a dreadful record for the Scottish Government.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific ask about scrapping two-child poverty cap and prioritising child poverty was not directly addressed
Redirecting To Government Achievements
Response accuracy