Hansard

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

05 Oct 2000

First Minister's Question Time · National Health Service

I am not going to be tempted—even by the charm of Jamie Stone—to discuss the immediate future of the maternity unit at Wick, although I am sure that it gives great satisfaction to those who use it.We are satisfied that standards will generally rise if we invest wisely in the h...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

05 Oct 2000

First Minister's Question Time · National Health Service

I do not blame Ben Wallace for making that point, because there has been much speculation about it in the press. However, I am told that there will be 900,000 doses of flu vaccine available for use in Scotland. That is a 75 per cent increase on the 520,000 doses that were avai...

The First Minister (Donald Dewar): Lab Chamber

05 Oct 2000

First Minister's Question Time · National Health Service

As Ben Wallace knows, after the experiences of last winter a great deal of effort has gone into planning. The winter performance group established by the Scottish Executive reported in August and a winter planning conference was held last month. Most importantly, substantial a...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

05 Oct 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Public Spending

I will certainly look very carefully at that. However, I can tell Andrew Wilson that, in real terms, the level of public spending will be higher than ever before. It may be that, as a percentage of gross domestic product, there is another picture, but that is because of the Go...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

05 Oct 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Public Spending

I certainly agree with Michael McMahon about that. At the moment we are faced with a debate that has a certain air of unreality about it. We have a bid on the table, one might say, and a firm intention and declaration, which will be met. From other parts of the political horiz...

The First Minister (Donald Dewar): Lab Chamber

05 Oct 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Public Spending

As Michael McMahon knows, public spending will increase by £1.2 billion, £2.3 billion and £3.4 billion over the three years to 2003-04 cumulatively. That will have a substantial impact on the provision of services in Scotland. That spending has been widely welcomed and is dram...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

05 Oct 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Exams Inquiry

I cannot give Marilyn Livingstone a time scale, because talks are continuing. I understand that today Sam Galbraith met the conveners of the two committees that are involved. I described those discussions as constructive because that was the report that reached me. I know that...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

05 Oct 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Exams Inquiry

If Mr Ewing feels that I have impugned his integrity, I am sorry. However—and I am not making a particular point about him—there has been a slight tendency in the committee system for information often to reach the press with surprising speed. Interruption. Having made the poi...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

05 Oct 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Exams Inquiry

All I say to Fergus Ewing is that he is taking a very simplistic approach. Let me make it clear that Deloitte & Touche is employed to provide expertise to ensure a thorough analysis of what went wrong in certain areas of particular speciality. We concluded that it was right to...

The First Minister (Donald Dewar): Lab Chamber

05 Oct 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Exams Inquiry

I refer Fergus Ewing to the reply that I gave to John Swinney a few minutes ago.

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

05 Oct 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Cabinet (Meetings)

There has been a great deal of discussion among colleagues, led by Sarah Boyack, about how we should face up to the challenge of the competition that is being brought in by Westminster legislation, which is a difficult and complicated matter. I believe that a consultation docu...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

05 Oct 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Cabinet (Meetings)

Fairness and equity in public funding is ensuring that the people who require help and care are the ones who get it. Choices must be made. I know that members will hear later about an exciting package—which will cost a great deal of money—investing in community care and in hel...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

05 Oct 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Cabinet (Meetings)

Mr McLetchie will have to wait a little while for the statement that Susan Deacon will make later. I have said repeatedly that the test that we will apply is whether expenditure—it will be big expenditure—raises the standard of care for a significant number of people who requi...

The First Minister (Donald Dewar): Lab Chamber

05 Oct 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Cabinet (Meetings)

The Cabinet will next meet on Tuesday and we will discuss the issues of the day.

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

05 Oct 2000

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

First, I am not in contravention of the Scotland Act 1998. Section 23 is a power that has not yet been invoked and if Mr Swinney wants to bandy legal points with me, I must point out to him that that is the legal position. I said that I thought that section 23 was something of...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

05 Oct 2000

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

It would be a shame if there were to be laughter about a serious matter. The point is that, for good reasons, there is protection for direct civil service advice to ministers. In the same way, as John Swinney knows, it is not possible for me to go back and look at papers from ...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

05 Oct 2000

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

I am afraid that that explanation was riddled with assumptions that are unsafe and has largely been overtaken by events. Of course, the provisions in section 23 exist. One of the committees—not both—has asked for the production of documents, and so far as I am concerned, I hav...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

05 Oct 2000

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

Applause is easily earned these days.I am very familiar with section 23, and regard it as a nuclear option, which no one would want to see used on a regular basis. Of course there is a problem, which John Swinney will be the first to recognise, because there is a code of pract...

The First Minister (Donald Dewar): Lab Chamber

05 Oct 2000

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

I last met the Secretary of State, along with other colleagues, last week at Brighton, which is a prosperous watering place on the south coast of England. I spoke to him at length this morning. I will be seeing him in Glasgow tomorrow. Our discussions range widely.

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

28 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Deportees

I made it clear that there has been a lot of discussion on this matter, and I do not regard that discussion as one that has been concluded. In particular, I mentioned the possibility of alternations to the convention.I repeat: if, in relation to cases such as the Canadian case...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

28 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Deportees

I will still continue. We should not forget that we are talking about two-way traffic. There may be big spurts of publicity over a particular case of someone who comes into this country, but the best figures available to me—which may be open to a little questioning as to their...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

28 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Deportees

There are genuine problems with this issue and quite extensive discussions have taken place on the best way forward, although solutions have not been easy to find. For example, there is a proposal to amend the convention that covers such movements, in order to allow people to ...

The First Minister (Donald Dewar): Lab Chamber

28 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Deportees

Persons convicted abroad and deported back to the UK will no longer be serving any sentence and will normally have committed no offence in this country. Therefore, it is unlikely that there will be legal grounds justifying intervention by authorities in Scotland or the rest of...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

28 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Adult Education and Training

I am not aware of that difficulty. I will inquire of colleagues who specialise in this field and write to the member if a problem exists. The matter has certainly not been drawn to my attention and I do not think that it commands a great deal of sympathy on the Executive bench...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

28 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Adult Education and Training

I agree entirely that there are often inhibitions and a fear of the unknown. Adequacy problems can inhibit people who could greatly benefit from adult literacy help. I am glad to congratulate West Lothian Council on an innovative attempt to overcome those difficulties. The imp...

The First Minister (Donald Dewar): Lab Chamber

28 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Adult Education and Training

This week Henry McLeish announced £22.5 million over the next three years to raise literacy and numeracy levels and to back up the recommendations of the adult literacy 2000 team when it reports in December. He also announced recently £1.5 million this year to increase the num...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

28 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Central Heating (Funding)

Yes, but that is because our abjectly humiliated Chancellor of the Exchequer has made such savings on debt repayments. That is why we can make that transfer without any cost to the programme that was envisaged.The scheme will affect all council tenants and all pensioners who a...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

28 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Central Heating (Funding)

I may drop the odd stitch in that long list, but I will try it. As I understand it, there is £210 million of new money and about £40 million that is a transfer from the new housing partnership.

The First Minister (Donald Dewar): Lab Chamber

28 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Central Heating (Funding)

I am not absolutely clear about where Fiona Hyslop gets her £220 million from. We announced that the total programme will involve investing £350 million over five years. That will be fully fundable through new money, support from Scottish Homes and the warm deal, obligations o...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

28 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Prime Minister (Meetings)

Mr McLetchie looks at me quizzically—and he started so well.The important point is "fairness and equity". We have to ensure that we do everything possible with the funding and resources that are available to raise quality of life, provide facilities, and provide support, both ...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

28 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Prime Minister (Meetings)

I thought that that was an interesting definition of the Conservative party's constitutional position, but I see that I was making the mistake of actually listening to what Mr McLetchie said.Of course we can dare to be different. When the announcement is made about community c...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

28 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Prime Minister (Meetings)

The Prime Minister for England and Wales?

The First Minister (Donald Dewar): Lab Chamber

28 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Prime Minister (Meetings)

I saw the Prime Minister this week at a very enjoyable and successful Labour party conference. I was there and David McLetchie was not, which gives me a considerable advantage in judging the event.We see each other regularly and discuss matters of relevance to this Parliament ...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

28 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Scottish Executive Priorities

John Swinney should have listened to what I said. When I was Labour party spokesperson on social security in another place, I was a very strong supporter of the minimum income guarantee for the reasons that I have just given: it is the best way to help those who are on the bot...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

28 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Scottish Executive Priorities

I hope that no one will object if I say to John Swinney that I hope he will not parade his honesty at every question time—it would become rather repetitive.I have always been the strongest possible adherent to the national minimum income guarantee. It is the best way in which ...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

28 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Scottish Executive Priorities

If John Swinney thinks that a four-minute standing ovation for Gordon Brown was "abject humiliation", he is setting very high standards for his party conference.The Labour party has a strong commitment—in both the Scottish Administration and the UK Government—to tackling the p...

The First Minister (Donald Dewar): Lab Chamber

28 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Scottish Executive Priorities

I will start by congratulating John Swinney on his election as leader of his party. I look forward to what may be the rather unusual experience of exchanging views in a reasoned and reasonable fashion in the months ahead. The very fact that Mike Russell praised Irene Oldfather...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

20 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Inward Investment

I probably know as much about this as Mr Gallie does, as I read about it in the newspapers. However, I did not immediately take it up as a campaigning tool, as I suspect Mr Gallie did. That is one of the reasons that his politics do not always command the respect that he would...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

20 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Inward Investment

I agree entirely with Elaine Thomson about the importance of the oil industry and the technology that is built on it. Sometimes we have been criticised for not making the most of that and exporting our expertise to other parts of the world. However, some firms have been outsta...

The First Minister (Donald Dewar): Lab Chamber

20 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Inward Investment

I thank Elaine Thomson for her question. I believe and am confident that Scotland's science and research base is good enough to attract inward investment. The Executive is taking wide-ranging actions and initiatives to support and enhance Scotland's science and research base. ...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

20 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Cabinet (Meetings)

That is a unique point of view, as the membership of the progress group illustrates. I say to David McLetchie—and I am certain that I am right about this—that if we had appointed a minister to the progress committee, we would have been attacked immediately on the grounds that ...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

20 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Cabinet (Meetings)

A great deal of work is going on to contain costs under the general supervision of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body and the progress group. As he has majored on this subject today, Mr McLetchie will know that the Auditor General has commented favourably on the establi...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

20 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Cabinet (Meetings)

I accept it in the sense that I was responsible for the project at that stage. I am happy to recognise that fact. The £40 million estimate that appeared before we came into office was based on the advice that was available before any site selection had taken place and when no ...

The First Minister (Donald Dewar): Lab Chamber

20 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Cabinet (Meetings)

I do not need to look in my book to discover the answer to that. The Cabinet discussed several matters of significance to the Executive and to the people of Scotland.

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

20 Sep 2000

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

Every elected member takes their chances with the electorate. We will have to wait and see what weight the electorate gives to the issue of the new building. I will stand on our record as a whole, including the lowest unemployment for 24 years, more schoolteachers, more classr...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

20 Sep 2000

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

I am not sure that this is the best forum in which to debate the detail of these matters. Members: "Oh." In June 1999 and to the best of my ability I announced a total cost of £109 million and, from memory, £62 million-worth of construction costs. I do not think that anyone ha...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

20 Sep 2000

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

I do not see the immediate parallel between North Lanarkshire Council and the Holyrood project and I do not think I will bother discussing the matter with Dennis Canavan in order to find out.I say to Alex Salmond that there is a multiplicity of reasons. For example, as he will...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

20 Sep 2000

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

I have no intention of going in for some kind of blame culture or of trying to shift responsibility on to anyone else.

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

20 Sep 2000

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

Of course, I would never duck my responsibility for the actions that fell within my terms of operation, but I say to Alex Salmond that there is a genuine difficulty regarding selective quoting. What he said is not entirely representative.I will take one example that has had a ...

The First Minister (Donald Dewar): Lab Chamber

20 Sep 2000

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

I speak regularly to the Secretary of State for Scotland on the telephone, and no doubt will meet him next week at the Labour party conference.As this is the last First Minister's question time for Alex Salmond, and as we may be caught up soon in the staccato of debate, I wish...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

14 Sep 2000

Scottish Executive's Programme

Did Alex Salmond read this month's Bank of Scotland economic report, which said that manufacturing output was up for the 22nd month in succession and that the pace of that rise was increasing? It also reported an increase in manufacturing employment. Mr Salmond really must not...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

14 Sep 2000

Scottish Executive's Programme

Pathetic.

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

14 Sep 2000

Scottish Executive's Programme

Austria?

The First Minister (Donald Dewar): Lab Chamber

14 Sep 2000

Scottish Executive's Programme

I blush for appearing at yet another occasion.With permission, Sir David, I propose to make a statement on the Executive's programme, with particular reference to our legislative intentions over the next parliamentary year.Before setting out our plans, I want to pay tribute to...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

14 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · National Health Service (Funding)

That sounds right to me. However, I will have to check, as I do not have the figures to hand.The issue is important. For example, Glasgow has been one of the winners and the extra finance that will result will be very welcome, particularly given the difficult period that we fa...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

14 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · National Health Service (Funding)

I must take refuge in saying that I will write to Kay Ullrich on that. The amount is on the margin; however, that is important in such areas.

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

14 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · National Health Service (Funding)

That is an important consideration. Furthermore, it is vital that we have proper discussion and co-ordination and that we make the best use of this opportunity. If I remember rightly, Patricia Ferguson has direct experience of hospital management and, perhaps, of accounting co...

The First Minister (Donald Dewar): Lab Chamber

14 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · National Health Service (Funding)

Health needs are strongly influenced by deprivation. That is the key factor that is taken into account by the Arbuthnott calculations. The Arbuthnott formula allocates national health service funding to health boards and their local health care partners on what we believe is a...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

14 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Pensioner Poverty

I have enormous sympathy for the point that Malcolm Chisholm makes. It is important that we deal with the self-evident difficulties with the housing stock. It is true that we want to ensure that houses in which pensioners live are properly heated and insulated. We will have so...

The First Minister: Lab Chamber

14 Sep 2000

First Minister's Question Time · Pensioner Poverty

I welcome the presence of pensioners' delegations in the gallery of Parliament today. I have something of a fellow feeling with them because I will qualify for a state pension in two years.I will tell members a secret—I do not know whether it is an admission or a confession: I...