Chamber and committees

There does not seem to be much tension between ring-fenced support and local discretion, given that COSLA, local government leaders and trade union representatives have called for Government intervention on this issue. Does the cabinet secretary understand the feelings of local government staff when they see public pay policy being disregarded to give national health service staff a welcome but more generous settlement, and when they see the Government intervening in negotiations with teaching staff? Does she understand why local government staff are on the brink of industrial action, which could have an impact on our schools and public spaces, which have already undergone severe disruption? Will the Scottish Government consider providing additional support to councils and getting involved in the negotiations to reach a conclusion that will mean that local government staff feel as valued as the cabinet secretary set out in her opening statement and we avoid the disruption to schools and other services that we have experienced in the past year and a half?

We have touched on this issue already and Elma Murray covered it in her opening statement, but I want to ask about how the pandemic has had a greater impact on certain communities and sections of society. Elma Murray talked about women and minority ethnic communities, but are there any other sections of society or communities that the pandemic has also had a greater impact on? What evidence do you see of local authorities directing funding resources to support such areas in particular, rather than the funding going to the areas or communities that shout the loudest?

I draw members’ attention to my entry in the register of members’ interests, and declare that I am an owner and landlord of a property in the North Lanarkshire Council area.