Hansard

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab) Lab Chamber

17 Mar 2011

Clydebank Blitz 70th Anniversary

I absolutely accept the point that Des McNulty is making, but on behalf of people in the east end of Glasgow, I ask him to convey to the people of Clydebank that their suffering is well noted in Glasgow and is very much respected. In my very last intervention in the Scottish P...

Margaret Curran Lab Chamber

18 Nov 2010

Alternative Vote Referendum Date

Who is accusing who of hyperbole now? You are claiming that we have all sorts of motivations. Can you not understand the fundamental principle that I tried to articulate: people are deeply offended because the coalition Government started by saying that it would respect Scotla...

Margaret Curran Lab Chamber

18 Nov 2010

Alternative Vote Referendum Date

I understand why Robert Brown, as a Liberal, wants to get into the referendum argument on why we should change to a PR system, blah, blah, blah, but, as a member of the Scottish Parliament—that is the institution that he has been elected to—he must address the central point, w...

Margaret Curran Lab Chamber

18 Nov 2010

Alternative Vote Referendum Date

That is to argue on the head of a pin. The electorate will go to the ballot box wanting to know what decisions they have to make and how many votes they have. The last time, they went into polling stations with three decisions to make and mistakes took place. This time, they w...

Margaret Curran Lab Chamber

18 Nov 2010

Alternative Vote Referendum Date

As long as I have confirmation that I will get all my time, as I still have other things still to say.

Margaret Curran Lab Chamber

18 Nov 2010

Alternative Vote Referendum Date

That point flies in the face of what we know about why it went so wrong last time. Let us be clear about what we are asking people to do. We are asking people to vote in the Scottish Parliament elections, and there are two parts to that question. We are also asking the voter t...

Margaret Curran Lab Chamber

18 Nov 2010

Alternative Vote Referendum Date

Do I? Well, then.

Margaret Curran Lab Chamber

18 Nov 2010

Alternative Vote Referendum Date

No—I would love to, but I do not have time.

Margaret Curran Lab Chamber

18 Nov 2010

Alternative Vote Referendum Date

No, and I will make that clear as I go through my arguments.It is vital that the Scottish Parliament takes a view, because I have been trying to articulate the view of Scottish politics when I am down there. I am staggered by the fact that the first engagement between the coal...

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab) Lab Chamber

18 Nov 2010

Alternative Vote Referendum Date

This is a welcome debate. As many members know, I am now a member of Parliament at Westminster, and I have followed the debate there with great interest. In one of the many contradictions that I would like to make to what Mike Rumbles has said this afternoon, I have to tell hi...

Margaret Curran Lab Chamber

18 Nov 2010

Alternative Vote Referendum Date

I am so grateful to the member for taking my intervention.On the respect agenda, if the member’s arguments are so strong, surely he agrees that it was incumbent on the coalition Government to consult the elected Government of Scotland so that it could at least work out the imp...

Margaret Curran Lab Chamber

18 Nov 2010

Alternative Vote Referendum Date

Will the member give way?

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab) Lab Chamber

18 Nov 2010

Alternative Vote Referendum Date

Will the member take an intervention?

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab) Lab Chamber

28 Oct 2010

First Minister’s Question Time · Secretary of State for Scotland (Meetings)

Is the First Minister aware of allegations about practices at a care home in my constituency of Ballieston, which the Daily Record has highlighted this week? Will he follow the investigations and make every effort to ensure that residents in care homes in Scotland and their fa...

Margaret Curran Lab Chamber

30 Jun 2010

Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

I am surprised by the Tories’ decision and confused by the SNP’s decision.I am surprised by the Tories, who seem to be putting hurdles in the way of what is a straightforward proposal. I must say to Bill Aitken that of course emotion is involved in such circumstances, but we s...

Margaret Curran Lab Chamber

30 Jun 2010

Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

I lodged a similar amendment at stage 2, but decided to bring the issue back at stage 3. At stage 2, the proposal was agreed in principle, and the minister indicated that he would introduce the proposal. Nothing has happened yet, although I appreciate that the minister will dr...

Margaret Curran Lab Chamber

30 Jun 2010

Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

I would love to, but I do not have time.If we agree to the proposal in the bill today, a message will run round Scotland that we no longer accept the carrying of knives. That message of “No ducking, no diving, if you carry a knife, you will face the consequences” will be under...

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab) Lab Chamber

30 Jun 2010

Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

To Stewart Maxwell, I say that I will be driven by the experience in Glasgow and Scotland rather than by research from the United States.I am moved to speak in the debate because of the experience of my constituents—such as Sam, who is in the public gallery today—who have lost...

Margaret Curran Lab Chamber

27 May 2010

Her Majesty’s Government (Relations)

I always like to make Gavin Brown happy; he knows that.Of course I will vote for Pauline McNeill’s amendment, but let us not be diverted by a minor part of the Calman report. We all know that it has the substantial support of the Parliament and its core must be protected. I ho...

Margaret Curran Lab Chamber

27 May 2010

Her Majesty’s Government (Relations)

My most striking reflection on that coalition—I had many discussions on the subject—is how the two parties remained distinct from one another. We sat separately and were very distinct. What is most striking about the coalition down south has been its automatic integration. I a...

Margaret Curran Lab Chamber

27 May 2010

Her Majesty’s Government (Relations)

I will come to some of those points later, but it will be no surprise to Mary Scanlon, who knows me well, to hear that I am a bit too long in the tooth to fall for the idea that one visit from a Prime Minister somehow translates into respect.It is incumbent on all of us in Sco...

Margaret Curran Lab Chamber

27 May 2010

Her Majesty’s Government (Relations)

I ask Mary Scanlon to bear with me for a bit.I also thank the Conservatives for the timing of today’s debate. We have just gone through significant shifts in our political circumstances in Scotland and the United Kingdom, so it is an apposite debate. It gives me the opportunit...

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab) Lab Chamber

27 May 2010

Her Majesty’s Government (Relations)

I am disappointed that Annabel Goldie is not in the chamber to hear this because I wanted to begin with a surprise and thank her for giving us so many quotations today that we can use ad nauseam in debates. I am very grateful for her recognition of Alex Salmond’s admiration fo...

Margaret Curran Lab Chamber

27 May 2010

Her Majesty’s Government (Relations)

Will the member give way?

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab) Lab Chamber

27 May 2010

Her Majesty’s Government (Relations)

Will Mike Rumbles outline what measures the coalition Government is taking this year to protect and safeguard jobs in Scotland?

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab) Lab Chamber

04 Mar 2010

Factoring Services

The debate is welcome, because its subject matters enormously to many people. As we have heard throughout the debate, many of our constituents have raised concerns about factoring issues. It is telling that we could all easily recount examples of the scale of the problems that...

Margaret Curran: Lab Committee

26 Jan 2010

Alcohol etc (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

No. It was just a point, I suppose.

Margaret Curran: Lab Committee

26 Jan 2010

Alcohol etc (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I return to the point that Helen Eadie raised. I see the logic in saying that the principle is in the bill and the administrative detail is in subordinate legislation. However, I must challenge that, because before we could vote on the principle we would need to see how it wou...

Margaret Curran: Lab Committee

26 Jan 2010

Alcohol etc (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Nonetheless, is that not still a significant step in terms of legislative procedure? The committee is interested in the principle of the legislative procedures that are proposed. You have given a commonsense answer to my question, but the measure may have implications for the ...

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): Lab Committee

26 Jan 2010

Alcohol etc (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Section 7 amends the power that is currently available under section 60 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 to vary the mandatory conditions that apply to licences and are set out in schedule 4 to the 2005 Act. The power enables for the first time amendments to be made to tho...

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): Lab Chamber

14 Jan 2010

First Minister's Question Time · Jobs Summit

Can I surprise the First Minister by thanking him for holding the jobs summit in my constituency? It was extremely worth while. Was he aware that many of those who attended said that the construction industry plays a vital role in creating jobs in the east end of Glasgow? When...

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): Lab Chamber

13 Jan 2010

Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I thank the minister very much for taking an intervention—I do not intend to hold him back too much. I cannot pretend that I jumped for joy when Paul Martin told me that I was going to be a member of the Subordinate Legislation Committee, but I am even more surprised that I ha...

Margaret Curran: Lab Chamber

02 Dec 2009

Violence Against Women

Will the minister address Angela Constance's point on the Government's sentencing policy? That issue is germane to the debate and we need clarity on it from the Government.

Margaret Curran: Lab Chamber

02 Dec 2009

Violence Against Women

I think that I am running out of time.That month can give a family the time that it needs, so the question about the Government's sentencing direction is critical. If we make a decision on sentencing in another debate, that could have huge implications for what we will be sayi...

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): Lab Chamber

02 Dec 2009

Violence Against Women

We come again to our annual debate on this subject, which has become a standard feature of the parliamentary calendar and is, as many members have said, related to the 16 days of activism.As the minister said in his opening speech, a consensus around the core elements of this ...

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): Lab Chamber

02 Dec 2009

Violence Against Women

I come to the issue from a slightly different perspective from that of Christine Grahame, as I represent an area in one of our bigger cities. The minister will know—I have written to him about this—that whenever there is an old firm game, the incidence of domestic abuse increa...

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): Lab Chamber

26 Nov 2009

First Minister's Question Time · Air-gun Incidents

Does the First Minister recall the terrible incident of the death of Andrew Morton, whose family were my constituents? I genuinely ask the First Minister to agree that this is not the day to play politics with the issue, but instead—Interruption. Genuinely, First Minister, thi...

Margaret Curran: Lab Chamber

19 Nov 2009

SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE · Car and Van Ownership (Glasgow)

The Scottish household survey also said that 50 per cent of households in the 15 per cent most deprived areas do not have a car, whereas the figure is 25 per cent for the rest of Scotland, so people in Glasgow are particularly reliant on public transport for work and leisure. ...

3. Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): Lab Chamber

19 Nov 2009

SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE · Car and Van Ownership (Glasgow)

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people in Glasgow owns one car or van only. (S3O-8502)

Margaret Curran: Lab Chamber

19 Nov 2009

First Minister's Question Time · Commonwealth Games 2014 (Support)

How does the First Minister square in his own mind this great commitment that he parades so publicly with the cancellation of the Glasgow airport rail link project which, as he knows, was a vital part of the bid document? Will he attempt to reinstate his credibility by reinsta...

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): Lab Chamber

19 Nov 2009

First Minister's Question Time · Commonwealth Games 2014 (Support)

Does the First Minister appreciate the deep frustration that is felt by those of us in Glasgow who have worked so hard to bring the Commonwealth games to the city at his attempts always to pass the buck and blame other people whenever we raise an issue about them? Whether he l...

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): Lab Committee

17 Nov 2009

Interests

I am pleased to be here, convener. I refer members to my entry in the register of members' interests.

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): Lab Chamber

05 Nov 2009

Sex Offenders

I ask the cabinet secretary to demonstrate a little patience with members who legitimately ask questions about resources and the practice of the Government—it is a perfectly reasonable activity on our part.Has the cabinet secretary specifically examined the details of yesterda...

Margaret Curran: Lab Chamber

04 Nov 2009

Glasgow Airport Rail Link

I say with no disrespect to the cabinet secretary that he should not flatter himself; I criticised not his presence, but the absence of others. The ministers who are responsible for decisions are not being held properly accountable to the Parliament. Fiona Hyslop should have f...

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): Lab Chamber

04 Nov 2009

Glasgow Airport Rail Link

Robert Brown commented on the presence of two cabinet ministers. I ask him to comment on the absence of the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change—as I wish to reflect on the minister's role in the matter—and on the absence of a number of SNP Glasgow back be...

Margaret Curran: Lab Chamber

29 Oct 2009

Scottish Economy

We need more time to go into the issue in greater depth, but I was trying to argue that in the past decade Labour has taken us into new territory, where it is possible to create an honest partnership between business and public services, and that Government intervention is at ...

Margaret Curran: Lab Chamber

29 Oct 2009

Scottish Economy

I do not have time.As Wendy Alexander said, when are we ever going to find out what the SNP actually thinks about the economic analysis and what its response to the situation would have been? The SNP always tries to face two ways. As we are beginning to understand, those who d...

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): Lab Chamber

29 Oct 2009

Scottish Economy

Last autumn, the world's financial system stood on the precipice. Without action, we would have faced a collapse of the banks and possibly the implosion of the financial system, with catastrophic consequences for the global economy. We are told that, ultimately, all politics i...

Margaret Curran: Lab Chamber

08 Oct 2009

School Buildings

I thank the cabinet secretary for finally giving way to me.I ask the cabinet secretary why he is replying to the debate. Is he stepping into the education team? When was that decision taken and why? Also, given that he is the finance secretary, can he tell us specifically how ...

Margaret Curran: Lab Chamber

08 Oct 2009

School Buildings

Will the cabinet secretary give way?

Margaret Curran: Lab Chamber

08 Oct 2009

School Buildings

Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): Lab Chamber

08 Oct 2009

School Buildings

Will the minister give way?

Margaret Curran: Lab Chamber

01 Oct 2009

SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE · Knife Crime (Glasgow)

Glasgow City Council.

Margaret Curran: Lab Chamber

01 Oct 2009

SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE · Knife Crime (Glasgow)

I argue that we have seen little progress on knife crime and point out that when it comes to crime, a postcode lottery exists in Scotland. Given that Glasgow has the highest level of recorded crime in Scotland, will the cabinet secretary provide Glasgow with any extra resource...

5. Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): Lab Chamber

01 Oct 2009

SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE · Knife Crime (Glasgow)

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were convicted of handling an offensive weapon or assault with a knife in Glasgow sheriff court and the High Court in Glasgow in July 2009. (S3O-8031)

Margaret Curran: Lab Chamber

17 Sep 2009

Budget 2010-11

Is it not time that the cabinet secretary was fair to Glasgow, our biggest city?

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): Lab Chamber

17 Sep 2009

Budget 2010-11

How can the cabinet secretary possibly justify a budget that is so hostile to Glasgow and the west of Scotland? How can he give us his explanation when he knows full well that his budget will cost 1,300 jobs in Glasgow and the west of Scotland? Can he explain this morning's re...

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): Lab Chamber

24 Aug 2009

Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed<br />al-Megrahi (Decision)

Does the cabinet secretary recognise that, for those of us who genuinely take a different view in believing that he made a grave error of judgment, the suggestion that we somehow all lack compassion is deeply offensive? Did he ask his officials to investigate details of compas...

Margaret Curran: Lab Chamber

25 Jun 2009

SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE · In Vitro Fertilisation

I am pursuing this question on behalf of constituents of mine who have been critical of the two courses of treatment that they received, feeling that they did not constitute full and fresh treatment. I will pursue the matter with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, but I would be g...

5. Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): Lab Chamber

25 Jun 2009

SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE · In Vitro Fertilisation

To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to guarantee that all national health service boards offer three cycles of NHS-funded in vitro fertilisation treatment to those who are eligible. (S3O-7557)