Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 10 March 2011
10 Mar 2011 · S3 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Local Services
I have not said that my preference is for a single force. I have said that the argument for that clearly has greater weight at the moment than the regional force model has. That was my position in the statement and it is the position that I made clear to the chief executive of Highland Council. I am happy to listen to and to take on board the council’s suggestions, and if the Liberal Democrats in Highland wish to argue for a regional model, that is fine. They will need to explain, though, what the boundaries would be. They will need to explain to some forces, such as those in Dumfries and Galloway and Fife, which have unitary boards, how their accountability will be improved by moving to a joint board. There are questions to be answered.
The Government’s position is that the status quo is untenable, and I will come on to that in due course. Two positions are clearly possible: a regional model; and a single force. The arguments for one are stronger at the present moment, but there are still major doubts to overcome, and that is why we have a consultation.
The Government’s position is that the status quo is untenable, and I will come on to that in due course. Two positions are clearly possible: a regional model; and a single force. The arguments for one are stronger at the present moment, but there are still major doubts to overcome, and that is why we have a consultation.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alex Fergusson)
NPA
Good morning. The first item of business is a Scottish Liberal Democrat Party debate on local services.09:15
Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD)
LD
I am glad to open the last Liberal Democrat debate of the session, on local services, and I will do so by nailing our colours firmly to the mast. Liberal Dem...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
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Robert Brown
LD
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The Minister for Community Safety (Fergus Ewing)
SNP
Will Mr Brown give way?
Robert Brown
LD
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Fergus Ewing
SNP
Robert Brown says that the SNP Government micromanages, but does he recall that it was the Labour-Liberal Administration that said that £6 million must be us...
Robert Brown
LD
Yes it was and yes I do, but the policy did not come from our side of the coalition.On the police proposals, we are told that three options are on the table:...
Dave Thompson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member give way?
Robert Brown
LD
I am happy to give way to Dave Thompson, so that he can explain his position on the matter.
Dave Thompson
SNP
I thank the member. Does he accept that a consultation is going on? Has he read the consultation paper? Does he expect to contribute to the consultation?
Robert Brown
LD
I think that Alison McInnes dealt satisfactorily with the matter in last Thursday’s debate, when she said:“the proposals for a national police force have no ...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
You can have five more minutes, Mr Brown.
Robert Brown
LD
Thank you.The consultation claims that there would be savings of between £81 million and £197 million. However, the Association of Chief Police Officers in S...
George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab)
Lab
Will Robert Brown take an intervention?
Robert Brown
LD
Yes, all right.
George Foulkes
Lab
Robert Brown is talking about the elderly. Does he support the policy announced by Tavish Scott to cut concessionary fares for the elderly?
Robert Brown
LD
Sorry, I did not catch that. Cuts to what?
George Foulkes
Lab
At the recent party conference, Robert Brown’s party leader said that the Liberal Democrats planned to cut concessionary fares for the elderly.
Robert Brown
LD
That was not said at all. George Foulkes should follow what is said more carefully.Let us return to the SNP. At no point in the past four years, despite the ...
The Minister for Public Health and Sport (Shona Robison)
SNP
Will the member give way on that point?
Robert Brown
LD
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The Cabinet Secretary for Justice (Kenny MacAskill)
SNP
I begin by reminding members that we are currently consulting on police and fire reform, and that both consultations are founded on an approach that protects...
Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD)
LD
In previous debates, not least the debate in the chamber last week, the cabinet secretary has made it clear that his preference is for a single force for Sco...
Kenny MacAskill
SNP
I have not said that my preference is for a single force. I have said that the argument for that clearly has greater weight at the moment than the regional f...
Robert Brown
LD
Will the cabinet secretary explain to the Parliament why the consultation follows evidence gathering by the officers he mentioned rather than precedes it, wh...
Kenny MacAskill
SNP
Well, the matters are on-going. Additional evidence was produced by Karyn McCluskey and, indeed, by Deputy Chief Constable Steve Allen of Lothian and Borders...
Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD)
LD
The cabinet secretary talked about community planning. Does he agree that the police and, indeed, the fire service are key members of the family of community...
Kenny MacAskill
SNP
Not at all. After all, once the consultation has been considered and is concluded, it will be passed to the Christie commission. There is clear acceptance th...
Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD)
LD
The cabinet secretary mentioned people coming together. Is it not already the case that all over Scotland, officers—whether in our police or our fire service...