Chamber
Plenary, 07 Dec 2000
07 Dec 2000 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Local Government Settlement
Is the member that old?
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Sir David Steel):
NPA
The first item of business is a statement by Angus MacKay on the local government settlement.
Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
On a point of order. This morning I contacted my colleague Kenny Gibson, asking to see a copy of the minister's statement, which he had in his possession at ...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
The answer is no, I cannot do anything about that because it is not a point of order for me. I am informed that, as a matter of courtesy, the Executive gives...
The Minister for Finance and Local Government (Angus MacKay):
Lab
With Fergus Ewing's consent, I will steer clear of freedom of information this morning and stick to the local government settlement. Since devolution, the La...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
That was inevitably a long and detailed statement, so I will allow questions to run on until about 10.15.
Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP):
SNP
I thank the minister for providing me with a copy of his statement an hour ago. I have guarded it with my life.I came here this morning hoping to hear from S...
Angus MacKay:
Lab
That was a satisfyingly muted series of questions from Kenny Gibson, which tells me that the announcements that we made today are a substantial change on pre...
Mr Gibson:
SNP
You were.
Angus MacKay:
Lab
No. I have never been a Unison-sponsored MSP. Kenny Gibson has a spade; he should keep digging.Kenny Gibson raised several important points about the settlem...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
I now call Keith Harding. It would be helpful if you pressed the button.
Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
It is pressed.
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
It is normal to press the button if you want to be called, but I knew that you wished to speak.
Mr Harding:
Con
I had pressed the button.
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
No, you had not. On you go now.
Mr Harding:
Con
Thank you, Presiding Officer.I thank Mr MacKay for giving me the statement an hour ago. I spent the hour reading it, not writing a speech.Everyone agrees tha...
Angus MacKay:
Lab
I am left almost speechless by Keith Harding's contribution. It is so far removed from reality that it would have given me some concern if I had not heard so...
Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con) rose—
Con
Angus MacKay:
Lab
I am not sure that I am allowed to take an intervention.
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
No.
Angus MacKay:
Lab
We have adopted a formula that has a good distribution for every council in Scotland. For members to be crying "Bah, humbug", especially at this time of the ...
Mr Harding:
Con
May I ask another question?
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
All right, I will let you in again. Your question was very short. Members: "Oh, come on." His question was very short.
Mr Harding:
Con
Is the minister saying that, as a result of the budget settlement, there will be no cuts in essential services in councils throughout Scotland?
Angus MacKay:
Lab
I get a bit concerned when former councillors come at the debate in those terms.
Mr Harding:
Con
I am still a councillor.
Angus MacKay:
Lab
Oh, dear—that is even more astonishing. I get a bit concerned when councillors ask questions about what the settlement will mean for specific local governmen...
Iain Smith (North-East Fife) (LD):
LD
As someone who was a councillor in Fife for 17 years before being elected to the Scottish Parliament—
Mr Gibson:
SNP
Is the member that old?
Iain Smith:
LD
I am.
Mr Gibson:
SNP
And I thought that he was a sweet young thing.