On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Earlier today, during portfolio questions on finance and the economy, in response to my Labour colleague Daniel Johnson, the Deputy First Minister said:
鈥渢he Government has increased the resources available to local government by more than 拢570 million. That cash increase is there for local authorities to deploy in the appropriate way, as they see fit, to meet the challenges in their local areas.鈥濃擺Official Report, 8 February 2023; c 21.]
I am not sure whether the Deputy First Minister has misspoken, but it certainly appears that he might have misled the chamber.
Clearly, the Government wants to present its local government settlement in the most positive light possible. However, as we heard in the chamber earlier today, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities believes that only 拢71 million of that 拢570 million is an increase in the resources to spend 鈥渁s they see fit鈥. As confirmed by our own Scottish Parliament information centre, that COSLA figure equates to a 拢304 million real-terms cut. The Institute for Fiscal Studies and the Fraser of Allander Institute also believe that the budget represents a real-terms cut.
The issue with what the Deputy First Minister said earlier today is that it is no longer simply an issue of presentation; this is now an issue of fact, accuracy and respect for this Parliament, as well as for councils across Scotland.
The Deputy First Minister knows fine well that the 拢570 million cash increase is almost entirely ring fenced or set aside for other policies, and therefore the figure cannot be regarded as accurate.
Just yesterday, we had the education secretary directing education spending.
Presiding Officer, we know that you are not responsible for the accuracy of ministers鈥 statements鈥攍ucky you鈥攂ut ministers are responsible for theirs. Has the Deputy First Minister sought to correct the record on that matter? Will you remind all members, including Government ministers, how they can correct the record and remind them of the importance of positive relations between this institution and our colleagues in local government?
As Mr Bibby will be aware, responsibility for the accuracy of a contribution rests with the member who is making it. If a member believes that there has been a factual inaccuracy, the guidance on corrections sets out the steps that they can take.
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