Hansard

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): SNP Chamber

27 Mar 2003

First Minister's Question Time · Schools (British History)

Does the First Minister agree that anyone who studies British history should also recognise that Britain was first in the world in economic performance in the 19th century, but is today 19th and falling? We should recognise that many of the countries that became independent fr...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

26 Mar 2003

Scottish Economy

I am enormously grateful to the minister for giving way a second time. Does he recognise that the Scottish Executive's chief economist, in supporting the debate today, said that the figure that the minister quoted said nothing about independence and everything about devolution...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

26 Mar 2003

Scottish Economy

Does the minister recognise that Scotland had administrative devolution of all the powers that we currently have and all the powers that the Executive has used before the Parliament was created?

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

26 Mar 2003

Scottish Economy

I am grateful to Mr Mundell for his kind words, and also for giving way. His front-bench spokesperson, Murdo Fraser, said that the Conservatives want to abolish Scottish Enterprise, but Mr Mundell says that they do not. Perhaps he can tell us why. Has Mr Fraser been sacked for...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

26 Mar 2003

Scottish Economy

Will the member give way?

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

26 Mar 2003

Scottish Economy

Will Bristow Muldoon apologise to the people of Scotland for the fact that in the white paper that led to the establishment of the Scottish Parliament the Labour party made up the figure for the cost of the new Scottish Parliament building?

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

26 Mar 2003

Scottish Economy

Yes I am.

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

26 Mar 2003

Scottish Economy

I am grateful to the member for giving way twice. We are clear that we want Scotland to be independent—that is no shock. Is Wendy Alexander saying that, for the next four years and for the foreseeable future, Labour will oppose any more powers being given to the Scottish Parli...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

26 Mar 2003

Scottish Economy

We would be delighted if the member was speaking in sorrow and in anger. In the past 14 days, the Executive has announced £1,487,274,000 of spending commitments. She and the Executive, which she left, said that, in the unlikely event that the Labour party is re-elected for the...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

26 Mar 2003

Scottish Economy

I do not mean to lower the tone of Tavish Scott's considered speech but, given that he is focusing on the food and drink sector, and given the minister's comments that all the problems of the Scottish economy are to do with electronics, does the member agree that the fact that...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

26 Mar 2003

Scottish Economy

Phil Gallie should relax. The Labour party makes things up, invents support that does not exist and spins against opponents with demonstrably untrue attacks. By the Labour party's own admission, the SNP is stronger, clearer and more consistent on the economy—and no wonder. We ...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

26 Mar 2003

Scottish Economy

I know that Rhona Brankin is reading from a document that my party produced and it is a bit embarrassing for her to do that. The business rate is a target, a commitment and a pledge: it is what we want to achieve in the next four years. The member can obfuscate all she likes, ...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

26 Mar 2003

Scottish Economy

I will take Rhona Brankin's intervention for the sake of peace.

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

26 Mar 2003

Scottish Economy

I am developing the point. Labour said that our pledge cannot be afforded, yet the budgets are to be cut, so that is also demonstrably wrong. In the 14 days to yesterday, the Executive announced £1,487,274,000 of spending commitments. That is what Governments do; it is what th...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

26 Mar 2003

Scottish Economy

No, I am not taking it. Let us look at the detail. Labour's attacks on our pledge, which has not changed and which will not change, have been proven to be demonstrably wrong.

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

26 Mar 2003

Scottish Economy

I am moving on; my time is tight. An SNP Government will make a start with the limited powers of devolution. Even here, the Labour bluster machine has been spinning out of control. Let us take business rates as an example. Early last month, I outlined a policy commitment to ge...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

26 Mar 2003

Scottish Economy

I am long enough in the economic tooth not to believe economic forecasts, wherever they come from. That forecast is welcome, but I recognise that economic forecasts have not been very accurate in the past year. We can outperform the rest of the UK in one year—that has happened...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

26 Mar 2003

Scottish Economy

I need to move on. We have to complement the right-headed strategy that the Executive has set out with the full powers of competition, and we have to be as competitive as every other country in the economic mix. We need to build the confidence of the Scottish business communit...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

26 Mar 2003

Scottish Economy

I have to rely for my sources on Alf Young in The Herald, who reported Wendy Alexander as having said it. If it is not true, I am sure that she will have written to The Herald and asked for a retraction or made a complaint to the Press Complaints Commission. If she has not, sh...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

26 Mar 2003

Scottish Economy

How can we possibly trust a party that has made up supporters and spun the truth when most of those who backed it previously will not back it now? Why should we believe a word that Labour says? Interruption. I will take all the interventions that come, but I need to complete t...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

26 Mar 2003

Scottish Economy

I will not.The reality is that some of those people have even said that the Labour party did not contact them. It was making up support that did not exist.

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

26 Mar 2003

Scottish Economy

No, thanks. Why have 55 of Labour's business supporters said that they will not support Labour in the election? Why did 30 of them go bust?

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

26 Mar 2003

Scottish Economy

That is terrific. If the minister is complacent and thinks that things are fine, why did his predecessor resign saying that she could not get the economy to be taken seriously?

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

26 Mar 2003

Scottish Economy

I will take Iain Gray if he can tell us why a number of those in the advert said that they had not been contacted by Labour and so their support had been made up. The Labour party is making up support, and those that did support it have deserted it. What does Iain Gray have to...

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): SNP Chamber

26 Mar 2003

Scottish Economy

Iain Gray nearly got going at the end of his speech. We almost got into a debate, and then he had to sit down. My throat is failing me at this early stage in the election campaign, but I would like to say that it has been a privilege to be part of the Parliament's proceedings ...

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): SNP Chamber

26 Mar 2003

Scottish Economy

No, we would not.

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): SNP Chamber

20 Mar 2003

Points of Order

On a point of order, Presiding Order. My point of order relates to that of Lord James Douglas-Hamilton and the First Minister's response to it. At the close of the Parliament's proceedings today, I ask that guidance be given to the chamber. On reflection, the First Minister wi...

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): SNP Chamber

20 Mar 2003

Question Time · Universities (Meetings)

Is the minister aware of the growing anxiety of university leaders in Scotland about the Executive's ability to respond to their growing funding crisis? Unlike the minister's colleagues, those people do not blame him for the system, but blame the system itself and the constrai...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Committee

18 Mar 2003

Future Skills Scotland

I thought that the evidence was substantial enough.In comparison with other sections of the economy, the labour market is one on which much information is available. First, will Future Skills Scotland's project to make that information accessible produce only long-term results...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Committee

18 Mar 2003

Entrepreneurial Opportunities

I will come back to the question later.

Andrew Wilson: SNP Committee

18 Mar 2003

Entrepreneurial Opportunities

Can I ask a question?

Andrew Wilson: SNP Committee

18 Mar 2003

Entrepreneurial Opportunities

My question is for Tom Hunter. If you are right, Tom—and I think that you are—that would suggest that rural areas such as Elgin have a little more entrepreneurialism about them. They will have a higher small business formation rate and more people moving into small businesses ...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Committee

18 Mar 2003

Entrepreneurial Opportunities

We appreciate the six-hour round trip that Stephen Rattray has made. The evidence from all four witnesses has been first class, and picking through what we do with it is the big challenge. Tom Hunter and Chris van der Kuyl opened with the big question that has exercised me for...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Committee

18 Mar 2003

Entrepreneurship (Young People)

A lot of us feel like that every week in Parliament—you are talking about our life's experience.

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): SNP Committee

18 Mar 2003

Entrepreneurship (Young People)

As all members have said, every one of you should be very proud of what you have done today and the way in which you have expressed yourselves. You are a credit to yourselves and to your families. You should keep as hard at it as you possibly can over the weeks and months ahea...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

13 Mar 2003

International Situation

Will the member give way?

Andrew Wilson rose— SNP Chamber

13 Mar 2003

International Situation

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

13 Mar 2003

International Situation

Does Mr McLetchie not realise that now is not the time for playing the man and not the ball? Should he not raise his game and talk about the issues involved rather than the personalities?

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): SNP Chamber

13 Mar 2003

International Situation

Nonsense.

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

06 Mar 2003

Scottish Executive (Record)

I am in my last second; Wendy Alexander should examine the Parliament's procedures. Who is left standing in the total mess that is the present Labour leadership? Nobody seems to be left standing, other than Jack McConnell, who is trying to brief against his colleagues. That is...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

06 Mar 2003

Scottish Executive (Record)

It is the last minute of my speech; Wendy Alexander should take a seat—we have heard enough of her interruptions this week. More recently, Richard Simpson resigned, and Patricia Ferguson and Andy Kerr were knifed in the back for attacking the Liberals. Andy Kerr will be sacked...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

06 Mar 2003

Scottish Executive (Record)

We often like to receive praise from our opponents, but that is one piece of praise that I would rather have missed. I shall have to go home and spend a lot of time in the bath tonight, examining my conscience—Laughter.—as well as the Official Report of my speech. The truth is...

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): SNP Chamber

06 Mar 2003

Scottish Executive (Record)

We should note a moment of history today, as the Conservatives lead what is possibly their last ever debate in the Scottish Parliament in its modern history. As Donald Dewar once famously said, the Scottish Conservatives are like the North American buffalo: once seen in great ...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

06 Mar 2003

Scottish Executive (Record)

If that is the case, why did Wendy Alexander, the former Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning, say on Radio Scotland this week that the graduate endowment goes directly to pay for higher education costs in Scotland?

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

06 Mar 2003

Scottish Executive (Record)

Is it traditional for coalition partners to try to sink their own flagship, which Labour members tried to do during the course of the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Bill?

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

06 Mar 2003

Scottish Executive (Record)

The Liberals voted Labour out in 1979. The minister should take a look at history.

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): SNP Chamber

06 Mar 2003

Scottish Executive (Record)

Given all that Mr McLetchie has said, he should cast his eye on the benches behind him. It is an open secret that, if the Conservatives lose more than four seats at the next election, his job is up for grabs. Will Mr McLetchie look at his own house before tidying up everyone e...

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): SNP Chamber

13 Feb 2003

Question Time · Low Pay

The minister made reference to the eradication of mass unemployment. Is he aware of the findings of the Scotecon study at the University of Stirling—funded by the Scottish Executive—which reveal that Scotland has one of the highest rates in the industrialised world for the num...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

13 Feb 2003

Tourism

The minister is already on the record as having said that there would be an announcement early in the new year. Now we are told that there will be no announcement. Did the minister know when he said that there would be an announcement early in the new year that he was misleadi...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

13 Feb 2003

Tourism

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I beg your pardon, but the issue is of grave democratic importance, because the minister—

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): SNP Chamber

13 Feb 2003

Tourism

David Davidson mentioned the democratic scrutiny of money that supports the industry. In an alarming development, the Government has taken a decision on the future of the ATB structure but does not want the election and democratic scrutiny to get in its way. Will Mr Davidson c...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

12 Feb 2003

Economic Growth

I was born and brought up in Lanarkshire and I have lived there for most of my life—I love that part of the world—but the description of its economy as buoyant underlines the complacency that is at the heart of the Government's approach. The reality for many people in Lanarksh...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

12 Feb 2003

Economic Growth

The member has given way—I love it when interventions are invited rather than given. The SNP's policies are clear. We want business rates below the prevailing United Kingdom level. The motion shows that we seek to put the economy at the heart of the debate. Perhaps finding agr...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

12 Feb 2003

Economic Growth

Notwithstanding what Mr Lyon has just said, the Liberal Democrats' position seems to be—from what Tavish Scott said—that, in the election, they will suggest greater powers for the Scottish Parliament, which is in line with what I am saying. When specifically will we get those ...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

12 Feb 2003

Economic Growth

Rubbish.

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

12 Feb 2003

Economic Growth

Mr Muldoon is generous with his time. He referred to the stability of our economic context. Will he reflect on the fact that, since Labour came to power in 1999, our growth rate has been one third of our long-term trend rate, which is dreadful? Is he aware of Calgacus's statem...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

12 Feb 2003

Economic Growth

The motion seeks to broker agreement across the chamber about where the country needs to be. We will bring our election ideas to the election, not to the Parliament. Why does not the Conservative party have the grace to back a strategy that can unify people rather than leave p...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

12 Feb 2003

Economic Growth

The troubles in the Irish economy are interesting, but I think that Rhona Brankin should focus on the troubles in the Scottish economy, which are exponentially worse than those in Ireland. We cannot import everything from Ireland, but I would really like to have had the proble...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

12 Feb 2003

Economic Growth

I am grateful to the member for giving way with perfect timing. Given what Mr Scott has just said about the development of Liberal thinking on greater powers, we know that the Liberal Democrats have open minds. I suggest they introduce some urgency to that thinking and present...

Andrew Wilson: SNP Chamber

12 Feb 2003

Economic Growth

From political leaders of all parties, the business community needs some unity of purpose on an issue that is too grave for bickering of that nature. We must focus on increasing growth and we have to give credit where it is due and find some agreement. Miss Goldie's approach i...