Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 06 November 2013
06 Nov 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Glasgow Airport Rail Link
In answer to parliamentary questions last week, Keith Brown revealed that the land sales, which account for more than £8 million in lost funds, were processed by officials and there was no ministerial oversight of those transactions. It is a bit like what happens on a Saturday night, when the television newsreader tells viewers to look away when the football scores come up. I get the impression of millions of pounds swishing about in the transport budget and the minister looking away, out of his ministerial office.
There is a theme of incompetence in the way that the issue has been handled. We have heard from the Government that it had to sell the land because it was surplus to requirements. The reality is that, while one part of Transport Scotland was involved in selling the land, the other part was involved in an airport study group that was considering the possibility of a new GARL project. I have here the answer to a freedom of information request that shows that, in March, April and May this year, Transport Scotland was involved in discussions with a transport study group that was considering a new GARL project. At the same time, another branch of Transport Scotland was involved in the sale of the last piece of GARL land. Questions remain about that. Was it sheer incompetence on the part of the Government and Transport Scotland, or was it a show of political spite in killing off the GARL project? It is clear that Keith Brown is not in control of his department or his brief. The civil servants in Transport Scotland are pushing the policy context in different directions while Mr Brown sits in his ministerial office and twiddles his thumbs.
That theme of incompetence also runs into the SNP amendment, although the minister should be congratulated because he has achieved what engineers have failed to do—a U-turn on the railways. The SNP amendment describes the GARL project as “ill-conceived”. The SNP—or whoever drafted the amendment on its behalf—seems to have forgotten that it was a great supporter of the GARL project in 2006. Furthermore, when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, John Swinney, proposed the cancellation of the project, he did so on the basis of affordability, not desirability. The amendment is not competent, as it does not represent the SNP’s real position, and it should be withdrawn.
When we look at—
There is a theme of incompetence in the way that the issue has been handled. We have heard from the Government that it had to sell the land because it was surplus to requirements. The reality is that, while one part of Transport Scotland was involved in selling the land, the other part was involved in an airport study group that was considering the possibility of a new GARL project. I have here the answer to a freedom of information request that shows that, in March, April and May this year, Transport Scotland was involved in discussions with a transport study group that was considering a new GARL project. At the same time, another branch of Transport Scotland was involved in the sale of the last piece of GARL land. Questions remain about that. Was it sheer incompetence on the part of the Government and Transport Scotland, or was it a show of political spite in killing off the GARL project? It is clear that Keith Brown is not in control of his department or his brief. The civil servants in Transport Scotland are pushing the policy context in different directions while Mr Brown sits in his ministerial office and twiddles his thumbs.
That theme of incompetence also runs into the SNP amendment, although the minister should be congratulated because he has achieved what engineers have failed to do—a U-turn on the railways. The SNP amendment describes the GARL project as “ill-conceived”. The SNP—or whoever drafted the amendment on its behalf—seems to have forgotten that it was a great supporter of the GARL project in 2006. Furthermore, when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, John Swinney, proposed the cancellation of the project, he did so on the basis of affordability, not desirability. The amendment is not competent, as it does not represent the SNP’s real position, and it should be withdrawn.
When we look at—
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-08173, in the name of James Kelly, on transport. We are extremely tight for time in today’s debates, so I...
James Kelly (Rutherglen) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to open the debate on behalf of the Scottish Labour Party and to move the motion in my name.This is an important debate because it ...
Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
SNP
Money has been saved.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
Mr Stevenson.
James Kelly
Lab
In answer to parliamentary questions last week, Keith Brown revealed that the land sales, which account for more than £8 million in lost funds, were processe...
Annabelle Ewing (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
James Kelly
Lab
Just let me make my point.When we look at the SNP benches, we do not see Sandra White, Nicola Sturgeon or any of those MSPs who, in 2006, were making enthusi...
Annabelle Ewing
SNP
If the member is suggesting that the amendment is incompetent, presumably that is a direct challenge to the Presiding Officer, and he may wish to comment on ...
James Kelly
Lab
All land deals were subject to due diligence when they were added to the Scottish Government’s balance sheet. That is why we need a full audit—to scrutinise ...
Stewart Stevenson
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
James Kelly
Lab
I am sorry, but I am running out of time.Next year, the people who arrive for the Commonwealth games will do so at an airport with no rail link. However, sim...
The Minister for Transport and Veterans (Keith Brown)
SNP
It is more than four years since John Swinney came to Parliament to explain the reasons why we cancelled the GARL project. That was the right decision then a...
James Kelly
Lab
Will the minister take an intervention?
Keith Brown
SNP
In a second.In January 2007, SPT estimated that work in the airport campus would cost £7.8 million. In May 2008, when the project was handed over from SPT to...
James Kelly
Lab
The minister mentioned Transport Scotland. Was he aware that, earlier this year, Transport Scotland participated in an airport study group that was looking a...
Keith Brown
SNP
Yes, of course I was aware of that. Transport Scotland has said the same thing throughout the process, which is that we do not support a replacement GARL pro...
Drew Smith (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
Will the minister give way?
Keith Brown
SNP
No, I will not.The Government was not convinced that that level of public expenditure to compensate what was a private company could be justified at a time o...
James Kelly
Lab
Will the minister give way?
Keith Brown
SNP
No, I have already taken an intervention. I have less time than the member had.
Jackson Carlaw (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the minister take an intervention?
Keith Brown
SNP
No, I do not have enough time.We made it clear time after time that the land would be disposed of in accordance with the “Scottish Public Finance Manual”. It...
Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Will the minister give way?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
The minister is in his last minute.
Keith Brown
SNP
I should also mention the £80 million electrification of the Cumbernauld line, which will introduce electrified services in advance of the Commonwealth games...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
You must close now, minister.
Keith Brown
SNP
The Government is not afraid to make difficult decisions when it has to and, once we have made a decision, we move on from it. Our focus is to prioritise inv...
Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I have no particular desire to become involved in this unsightly spat between the Labour Party and the SNP. However, as the opportunity to speak in the debat...
Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Lab)
Lab
Will the member give way?
Alex Johnstone
Con
If the member will excuse me, I will carry on and try not to get too involved.This afternoon, the Labour Party has made a number of suggestions about some fo...