Hansard

Bill Wilson SNP Chamber

22 Mar 2011

Scottish Executive Question Time · Addiction

Is the Government willing to amend the drugs strategy, acknowledging that addiction and recovery from addiction are socially determined phenomena, which require, in addition to treatment and support of the individual, a commitment to an economic strategy that enhances psychoso...

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP) SNP Chamber

22 Mar 2011

Scottish Executive Question Time · Addiction

5. To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the view of the Canadian expert on addiction, Professor Bruce K Alexander, and of many Scottish drugs workers, that addiction should be viewed as a response to psychosocial dislocation largely caused by the disruptive e...

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP) SNP Chamber

16 Mar 2011

Higher Education Funding

What lessons does the Scottish Government draw from the paper by Timothy Noah entitled “The Great Divergence”, in which he attributes 30 per cent of the rise in inequality in the United States to failures in the education system and, citing the Harvard economists Claudia Goldi...

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP) SNP Chamber

10 Mar 2011

Scotland Bill

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. It is not clear what Iceland has to do with the motion.

Bill Wilson SNP Chamber

10 Mar 2011

Scottish Executive Question Time · Police and Fire Services Review

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Can you provide clarification, even at a later date, as to why I cannot ask the Government for its views of and position on WikiLeaks?

Bill Wilson SNP Chamber

10 Mar 2011

Scottish Executive Question Time · Whistleblowers

Does the Scottish Government agree that, with reference to whistleblowing, WikiLeaks provides a valuable service; that individuals who provide information to it, such as Bradley Manning, should be viewed as heroes rather than villains; that however they are viewed they should ...

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP) SNP Chamber

10 Mar 2011

Scottish Executive Question Time · Whistleblowers

7. To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to encourage and protect whistleblowers in public services or those working for companies fulfilling public contracts. (S3O-13288)

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

09 Mar 2011

Annual Report

On stretching the envelope in future, the only other thing that we might want to note is that the cabinet secretary did not lodge two possible amendments and he therefore recognises that there must be a limit to the power.

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

09 Mar 2011

Petition

To be fair, the proposal is not to designate all trees, but only ancient avenues of trees, for example, or all trees in an area. An area would be specifically designated. That is my understanding of the intent of the petition. However, in light of Roseanna Cunningham’s respons...

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP) SNP Committee

09 Mar 2011

Subordinate Legislation

The Subordinate Legislation Committee seemed to suggest that the rule could not be qualified as a burden, because even if one side did not get possession of the land, the other side would. Therefore, the land would be worked. Your argument is that the rule is effectively a bur...

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

02 Mar 2011

Subordinate Legislation

The MOD continues to be a law unto itself. Thank you, cabinet secretary.

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

02 Mar 2011

Subordinate Legislation

Just so that I can be absolutely clear, are you saying that when the Ministry of Defence decides to dispose of depleted uranium shells in Scottish waters—they dishonestly claim that they are harmless when there is solid evidence that they are harmful—no one regulates that, and...

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

02 Mar 2011

Subordinate Legislation

You said that the regulations cover hospitals and universities. Do they cover the Ministry of Defence?

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

02 Mar 2011

Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 (Post-legislative Scrutiny)

I do not dispute that there is some irresponsible access, but I believe that most people are entirely responsible. Is the evidence anecdotal? Is any comprehensive evidence gathered on whether access is responsible or otherwise?

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

02 Mar 2011

Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 (Post-legislative Scrutiny)

So you would say that there is still evidence of continuing innovation—we have not lost steam since the passing of the 2003 act. There is still evidence of new, innovative ideas coming forward. Is the framework working as effectively as it might do? For instance, is there any ...

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP) SNP Committee

02 Mar 2011

Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 (Post-legislative Scrutiny)

When the legislation was introduced, it was almost a hope that part 1 would enable a cultural change, for instance by encouraging links between the access provisions and the health and planning agendas or between access and transport. Is there much evidence of such a cultural ...

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP) SNP Chamber

02 Mar 2011

Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Snaring is a controversial issue. Those who argue for it state that it is an essential aspect of land management. The committee was provided with evidence from a range of sources that argued for maintaining the option of snaring, because it is important to land managers. Howev...

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

23 Feb 2011

Agricultural Support

I am not sure that my question has not already been answered. I think that John Scott has stolen my question.

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

23 Feb 2011

Agricultural Support

Are you ruling out having certain minimal biodiversity conditions that everyone would have to meet?

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

23 Feb 2011

Agricultural Support

I was thinking of ecological or biodiversity issues. Would you offer top-up funds, or would you say that certain biodiversity conditions had to be met for someone to qualify for the payments at all? There are two slightly different routes that you could take.

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

23 Feb 2011

Agricultural Support

Top-ups might be an option. Another would be to demand more conditions on the basic pillar 1 payments. Do you have a preference, or could both options be combined?

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

23 Feb 2011

Agricultural Support

No.Cabinet secretary, will you spell out in slightly more detail what objectives, other than food production, you would like the CAP to prioritise and how you would like them to be prioritised?

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP) SNP Committee

23 Feb 2011

Agricultural Support

Some of my questions seem to have been asked by someone else.

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

09 Feb 2011

Agricultural Support

We have touched on various bits of it time and again. Perhaps you want to go through the rest and see what time is left.

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

09 Feb 2011

Agricultural Support

You must ensure that there is at least one comment.

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

09 Feb 2011

Agricultural Support

We have had several things listed as “impossible”, so let us see whether we can have another in the next few seconds. Both here and in the Lloyds TSB Scottish agricultural survey there is support for the idea that support should be targeted at active farmers. However, Brian Pa...

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

09 Feb 2011

Agricultural Support

I am a Scottish National Party MSP for the West of Scotland.

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP) SNP Committee

09 Feb 2011

Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 (Post-legislative Scrutiny)

Is there a great deal of variation among local authorities in taking forward the agenda on access? If so, does that tend to be because of internal problems, such as a lack of enthusiasm in the authorities, or because they have attempted to take forward the agenda and have had ...

Bill Wilson SNP Chamber

03 Feb 2011

Scottish Executive Question Time · Celtic Connections

How does the Scottish Government assess the non-economic contribution of such cultural events to Scotland?

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP) SNP Chamber

03 Feb 2011

Scottish Executive Question Time · Celtic Connections

6. To ask the Scottish Government what the economic impact is of traditional cultural events such as Celtic Connections. (S3O-12854)

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP) SNP Committee

02 Feb 2011

Agricultural Support

I have a question about what happens if payments are moved to become headage payments for the animals that are grazing. Perhaps 10 or 15 years back, there were concerns about overgrazing through the encouragement of excessive stocking of the land, which was because of headage ...

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

01 Feb 2011

“Brussels Bulletin”

I will leave that—sorry, I have mixed up the two.

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

01 Feb 2011

“Brussels Bulletin”

I was going to ask Ian Duncan about his comment that the European Commission might investigate the disparity in power in the food purchasing chain, but I am beginning to think, looking at the “Brussels Bulletin”, that I am mixing up his bulletin with tomorrow’s report to the c...

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

01 Feb 2011

“Brussels Bulletin”

Sorry.

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP) SNP Committee

01 Feb 2011

“Brussels Bulletin”

The Faroese are obviously much more vulnerable from that perspective. Is there any sign that they are moving, or are they and the Icelanders still sticking closely together?

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP) SNP Chamber

27 Jan 2011

Reservoirs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

At the start, let me comment on and condemn the inconsiderate behaviour of the cabinet secretary towards the back benchers who will speak in the debate. There has been little disagreement on the bill: all parties are supportive and there are but a limited number of points on w...

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

19 Jan 2011

European Union Legislative Proposals (Reporter)

I second that.

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

19 Jan 2011

Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

In the light of the minister’s comments, it is reasonable to give the TPOs an opportunity to work, so I will not press the amendment.Amendment 156, by agreement, withdrawn.Sections 29 to 31 agreed to.After section 3111:15

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

19 Jan 2011

Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

A recent petition to the Public Petitions Committee—PE1340—focused attention on the issue of inadequate protection for some of Scotland’s important trees. Tree preservation orders do of course exist at present, but they tend to be used for trees under threat and they also tend...

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

19 Jan 2011

Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Forgive my intervention, but I want to respond briefly to John Scott’s comment and this is my only chance. He cites his concern with economic growth as a reason not to take action, but I point out that biodiversity loss and environmental degradation have an impact on both econ...

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

19 Jan 2011

Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

It is disappointing that we have missed our 2010 targets. The fact that every nation in the EU has missed its 2010 targets is not a reason not to take action. Clearly, the 2004 strategy is wanting. It was well intentioned, but there were few hard commitments in the strategy an...

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

19 Jan 2011

Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Would SNH intervene on the basis of damage done or on the basis of the code of practice? John Scott seemed to think that it would intervene on the basis of the code of practice, but I thought that it would intervene on the basis of damage done.

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

19 Jan 2011

Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

I am happy to see the word “serious” removed. I am convinced that a clever lawyer would have used it to obviate any attempt at control measures.

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP) SNP Committee

19 Jan 2011

Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

I think that it is fair to say that a constant theme throughout our evidence gathering was what we should do with people who refuse to co-operate with sustainable deer management objectives, which brings me to a question for Robin Harper. For people who do not carry out the pr...

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

18 Jan 2011

Scottish Government’s China Plan

There is a question on mentoring that we should ask. The committee has heard that businesses that are working in China would be happy to provide advice and guidance to smaller businesses, and SDI responded positively to the suggestion of a mentoring scheme, which would be rath...

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

18 Jan 2011

Scottish Government’s China Plan

The opportunities are too numerous to mention, but it must be said that you have made a good effort to do so.I turn from the Confucius institutes to the issue of renewable energy. I understand that the partnership in Shandong concentrates mainly on education. Given that China ...

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

18 Jan 2011

Scottish Government’s China Plan

I am curious about the two ministers’ visits, which had much publicity. You mentioned one issue that was discussed—the Confuscus—I knew that I should not have tried to pronounce that word in a committee meeting. You referred to the institutes. What other hard benefits have com...

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

18 Jan 2011

European Union Budget (Europe 2020 and Cohesion Policy)

It occurs to me that we could say that we are not expecting all nations to meet the 2020 target at the same level, as it were, and that the argument could be that the EU should be meeting the target as a whole, rather than each individual state necessarily meeting the target, ...

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

18 Jan 2011

European Union Budget (Europe 2020 and Cohesion Policy)

There will obviously be a group of countries that will want to stay in that situation and I imagine that there will be another group of countries that will agree with your idea of looking for the opportunities to meet climate change targets through renewable energy, for exampl...

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

18 Jan 2011

European Union Budget (Europe 2020 and Cohesion Policy)

Cabinet secretary—I have got your title right this time—how hopeful are you that you can do that? There will be a lot of opposition and certain nations will want to see some form of GDP threshold. I make the small aside that I do not like GDP as a measurement of anything, but ...

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

18 Jan 2011

European Union Budget (Europe 2020 and Cohesion Policy)

Minister, I doubt whether there is a non-state nation that does not have an interest in the reforms to structural funds. If there is one, I am sure that you could identify it, but I would be surprised. Have we made any effort to identify whether we have common interests with o...

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP) SNP Committee

18 Jan 2011

European Union Budget (Europe 2020 and Cohesion Policy)

Just for clarification, I think that the statement was made by a witness; it was not made on behalf of the European Commission.

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

12 Jan 2011

Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

I think that we all accept that most landowners are responsible, but there is clearly a collection of irresponsible landowners who are regular lawbreakers and will continue to break the law until they believe that they can be caught. Vicarious liability is a method of saying t...

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

12 Jan 2011

Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

In discussing amendments 101 and 102, the minister referred to the problems of gathering evidence, which are clearly substantial. The evidence is often located in very remote areas and there is a manpower problem. Therefore, there are good arguments for extension of the SSPCA’...

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

12 Jan 2011

Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

The conservation benefits of shooting are fairly widely recognised and not particularly disputed, but I share Peter Peacock’s concern that, if very unusually high-density releases of pheasant and red-legged partridge took place, they might cause local damage. Therefore, I am a...

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

12 Jan 2011

Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

I add my support, at least for the principles behind Peter Peacock’s amendment.

Bill Wilson SNP Committee

12 Jan 2011

Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

I support Elaine Murray’s point that we need consistency. If single witness evidence is needed because poaching crimes take place far out of sight and only one witness might see them, logically, the provision should apply to any form of wildlife crime. On the other hand, altho...

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP) SNP Committee

12 Jan 2011

Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Snaring is clearly a complex and emotive issue and one that I believe should be subject to a conscience vote. I hope that the code of practice works and I am delighted that the minister has accepted the need for a review, because otherwise I could not have voted to support the...

Bill Wilson SNP Chamber

23 Dec 2010

Scottish Executive Question Time · International Development (Ethical Standards)

Does the minister agree that all representatives of Scottish and United Kingdom interests on the international stage should support the full investigation of any instances of alleged corruption in their external dealings by institutions based in Scotland or the United Kingdom?...

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP) SNP Chamber

23 Dec 2010

Scottish Executive Question Time · International Development (Ethical Standards)

3. To ask the Scottish Government what measures it undertakes to ensure that official exchanges with the countries it provides aid to are carried out to the highest ethical standards. (S3O-12487)