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Public services are not only nice-to-haves; for many people, they are lifelines, especially in rural constituencies such as mine. The Scottish Government’s draft budget for 2025-26 demonstrates a deep commitment to those lifelines, with £21.7 billion allocated to health and social care and more than £15 billion for local authorities.

The motion ensures fairness and sustainability for Scotland’s communities, especially in the north-east, where public services are often the glue holding us together. Across Aberdeenshire, Moray and rural areas more broadly, public services face unique challenges, and long distances to essential services are a daily reality.

I have worked with local campaign groups in Banffshire and Buchan Coast that oppose library closures. Libraries are more than places to borrow books from; they are hubs of community activity offering internet access, educational resources and a sense of belonging for those who might otherwise feel lonely. I recently visited Macduff library, and I have been chatting to constituents who are campaigning against library closures.

Does the member accept, when he talks about the fishing industry, that there are many sectors in that industry, and that the fish processing sector is suffering considerably as a result of Brexit, in respect of not just red tape but labour?

The SNP groups at Aberdeenshire and Moray councils managed to propose a budget that did not include cutting libraries. If the member thinks that it is down to resource, surely he will welcome the extra investment by the Scottish Government.

I met constituents who are campaigning to keep open libraries that have health initiatives, resources and signposting. Surely, if we learned anything during Covid it was how important connection is to our communities. Our public services are places of connection, and a delivery of books in a box disguised as library provision cannot replace that.

The passion and emotive responses from my constituents for their libraries set the temperature for how fiercely we should be defending them. Tory-controlled councils are jeopardising these much-loved services by earmarking libraries for closure and are leaving our communities in limbo by later announcing that those libraries have been saved only to U-turn on their U-turn mere hours later.

I welcome the Scottish Government’s record investment in culture and digital connectivity, which is essential for sustaining vital community assets. However, this is a call to action for all spheres of government to recognise libraries’ centrality to rural resilience and to act accordingly. I implore Moray and Aberdeenshire councils to do the right thing and to put the Scottish Government’s investment where the people want it. They would not only be doing the right thing; they would be doing the essential thing for their citizens.

The draft Scottish budget underscores the Government’s focus on fairness and sustainability. Increased funding for primary care, community health initiatives and local authority grants demonstrates our commitment to leaving no one behind. Rural communities will benefit significantly, with resources strengthening local services. That contrasts with the UK Government’s policy decisions, such as the family farm tax and its right-wing Farage-flirting stance on immigration, which ignore Scotland’s distinct needs and undermine progress.

Yesterday, the First Minister’s speech on NHS renewal laid out a bold vision for strengthening primary and community care, which is significant for rural areas like Banffshire and Buchan Coast, where local GP services are stretched and are often the only healthcare provision for miles. Increased primary care investment will reduce delays, improve outcomes and ensure that no one is left behind due to geography. I welcome that for my constituents.

When the Conservative councillors in Aberdeenshire voted to close overnight minor injury units in Fraserburgh and Peterhead, communities were livid. Those units are vital, as they provide timely care in emergencies to rural communities, who face unique challenges in accessing healthcare, yet councillors made the decision to close them without consulting the very people those services support. That shows an unacceptable disregard for our communities’ needs.

The closures are not just administrative changes; they are decisions that could have real and devastating consequences. Delays in accessing healthcare can be the difference between life and death, especially in areas where travel times to alternative services are substantial. My constituents are vehemently opposed to the closures and are demanding answers.

I thank the Scottish Government for its significant investment in our NHS and ask the Cabinet Secretary to do all that he can to urge Aberdeenshire Council to maintain these overnight services. Healthcare access is a fundamental right, and our communities deserve better than decisions being made without their input.

Sadly, Westminster is also out of touch with Scotland, and the UK Government’s actions continue to undermine Scotland’s public services. The failure to fully fund the additional employer national insurance costs has left our public sector with a significant shortfall, and this attack on local services disproportionately affects rural areas. It reflects a broader pattern of neglect and austerity from Westminster, which the Scottish Government works tirelessly to mitigate. Frankly, Scotland deserves better.

I want to take a moment to put on record my immense gratitude to our public servants who deliver our public services, which are the foundation of a fair and thriving Scotland. The draft Scottish budget demonstrates a clear commitment to investing in our people and our future.

Amendment 51, in the name of the minister, is grouped with amendments 53 and 52, 54 to 67, and 69 to 92. I draw members’ attention to the pre-emptions set out in the groupings of amendments.

Amendment 251, in the name of the minister, is grouped with amendments 252 to 263.

Amendment 27, in the name of the minister, is grouped with amendments 638, 639 and 508.

I propose that we suspend the meeting for five minutes for a comfort break.

Section 21—Power to direct special rule changes

I invite the minister to wind up, please.

Amendment 541, in the name of Tess White, is grouped with amendments 542, 546 to 548, 561, 566 to 570, 574 to 577, 579 to 581, 583 to 589, 591 to 604 and 607 to 636. I draw members’ attention to the pre-emptions set out in the groupings of amendments.

If amendment 542 is agreed to, I cannot call amendment 77, which was debated with amendment 51 in group 4, because of pre-emption.

Amendment 542 not moved.

Amendments 77 to 83 moved—[Siobhian Brown]—and agreed to.

Section 16, as amended, agreed to.

Section 17—Register of regulated legal services providers

Amendments 84 to 90 moved—[Siobhian Brown]—and agreed to.

Section 17, as amended, agreed to.

Section 18—Professional indemnity insurance

Amendments 91 and 92 moved—[Siobhian Brown]—and agreed to.

Section 18, as amended, agreed to.

Section 19—Review of regulatory performance by the Scottish Ministers

Amendments 93 to 101, 105, 104, 102, 103 and 106 to 111 moved—[Siobhian Brown]—and agreed to.

Section 19, as amended, agreed to.

Section 20—Measures open to the Scottish Ministers

Amendments 112 to 121, 310, 311, 122 and 123 moved—[Siobhian Brown]—and agreed to.

Section 20, as amended, agreed to.

Schedule 2—Further provision about measures open to the Scottish Ministers

Amendments 124 to 178 moved—[Siobhian Brown]—and agreed to.

Schedule 2, as amended, agreed to.