Hansard

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): Con Chamber

27 Mar 2003

Question Time · Adoption

Does the minister agree, particularly in the light of this morning's debate, that older, more mature couples would be welcome to apply for adoption and that our chosen children deserve the opportunity of a better home?

Mrs McIntosh: Con Chamber

27 Mar 2003

Closing the Opportunity Gap for Older People

No, I did not. He signalled his intention up to me.Colleagues across the parties in Central Scotland were strangers who became friends. I am sure that there are many more friends that I have yet to make. No matter what the circumstances of our departures today—to pastures new ...

Mrs McIntosh: Con Chamber

27 Mar 2003

Closing the Opportunity Gap for Older People

Indeed we are.However unwillingly, I shall be making way for an older person. I leave it to others to make the comparisons. However, there is life in this old dog yet. They used to say that life begins at 40. When I got there, they had bloody raised it to 50. At this rate, I w...

Mrs McIntosh: Con Chamber

27 Mar 2003

Closing the Opportunity Gap for Older People

Oh boy. In that case, I pay tribute to previous contributors Trish Godman, Kay Ullrich, Bill Butler, Mary Scanlon and Donald Gorrie. When Ian Jenkins mentioned Tina I was truly nervous. I thought that he had heard about last night and Dr Sylvia Jackson and me. That was worryin...

Mrs McIntosh: Con Chamber

27 Mar 2003

Closing the Opportunity Gap for Older People

Police numbers are not at their highest.Gender equality is dear to the minister's heart. Significant lifestyle changes are now possible, but, in my grandmother's day, regardless of whether someone was working or retired, their life was pretty much the same, as Johann Lamont sa...

Mrs McIntosh: Con Chamber

27 Mar 2003

Closing the Opportunity Gap for Older People

What is this—get me day?

Mrs McIntosh: Con Chamber

27 Mar 2003

Closing the Opportunity Gap for Older People

In a word, no. However, I can give the member a suggestion for his shoes—get Velcro fastenings, dear.I agree whole-heartedly with the comments that have been made about skills for the over-50 work force. I know many old people, some of whom are sitting not too far from me, who...

Mrs McIntosh: Con Chamber

27 Mar 2003

Closing the Opportunity Gap for Older People

Of course, but I ask Mr Gibson what is up with his tie.

Mrs McIntosh: Con Chamber

27 Mar 2003

Closing the Opportunity Gap for Older People

I do my level best to ensure that the member's constituents and those in the more southern part of Central Scotland get the chance to travel to Falkirk.

Mrs McIntosh: Con Chamber

27 Mar 2003

Closing the Opportunity Gap for Older People

I concede that point and that the Executive has done well in introducing the concessionary travel scheme, but there are areas in which the scheme does not work as well as it might. For example, I am regularly assailed, through correspondence, by a gentleman—a senior citizen, n...

Mrs McIntosh: Con Chamber

27 Mar 2003

Closing the Opportunity Gap for Older People

Happily.

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): Con Chamber

27 Mar 2003

Closing the Opportunity Gap for Older People

Members should not let the white hair fool them—I am the baby of the contributors in this debate. It gives me a great deal of satisfaction to be closing for the Tories in the debate—and the boss ain't here.I give the chamber my apologies for not leaving promptly. Members may w...

Mrs McIntosh: Con Chamber

27 Mar 2003

Closing the Opportunity Gap for Older People

Yes—strip to the waist.

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): Con Chamber

27 Mar 2003

Closing the Opportunity Gap for Older People

Oh, but I am.

Mrs McIntosh: Con Chamber

20 Mar 2003

Suicide Emergency <br />Telephone Hotline

Does the minister agree that one contributory factor is the extent of bullying in schools? I have been horrified at what I have heard when I have met the parents of children who have taken their own lives. We do not do enough to support children when they are being bullied at ...

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): Con Chamber

20 Mar 2003

Suicide Emergency <br />Telephone Hotline

I congratulate Kenny Gibson on securing this debate on a topic of great significance to me and to members across the chamber—this is not a party-political issue, but one that should attract united sympathy and support.Members might not be aware of what prompted my interest in ...

Mrs McIntosh: Con Chamber

13 Mar 2003

Question Time · Credit Unions

Can the minister comment on the stability and effectiveness of credit unions, in the light of any research that the Executive has undertaken on them?

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): Con Chamber

13 Mar 2003

Question Time · Credit Unions

Can the minister tell us, with reference to his negotiations with SCUP, what research has been undertaken on the effectiveness and stability of credit unions?

Mrs McIntosh: Con Chamber

12 Mar 2003

New Forth Road Bridge

I will take us back momentarily to the transport problems. We must have decent access to the hospital not only for those who attend the hospital, but for those who visit.

Mrs McIntosh: Con Chamber

12 Mar 2003

New Forth Road Bridge

May I, David?

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): Con Chamber

12 Mar 2003

New Forth Road Bridge

Will David Davidson give way?

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): Con Chamber

06 Mar 2003

Question Time · Drugs and Alcohol Misuse

As Mr Adam pointed out, there is a dreadful shortage of facilities for such people. Does the minister agree that it is better for children to see their parents make progress? Perhaps we should make better use of the facilities in places such as Castle Craig hospital—which has ...

Mrs McIntosh: Con Chamber

05 Mar 2003

Homelessness etc (Scotland) Bill

As I said, I appreciate that the proposed measure would have meant a bigger cost in the short term, but it would have created a long-term benefit.I support the bill's aims but, without the proper financial backing, local authorities will not meet the high expectations of the b...

Mrs McIntosh: Con Chamber

05 Mar 2003

Homelessness etc (Scotland) Bill

I cannot account for that.

Mrs McIntosh: Con Chamber

05 Mar 2003

Homelessness etc (Scotland) Bill

Not on that issue. I want to make progress. I will get to Jackie Baillie in a minute.We do not want to be party to an empty promise in which the Executive has failed to make an identified funding commitment. That would not be true blue.The legislative changes proposed in the b...

Mrs McIntosh: Con Chamber

05 Mar 2003

Homelessness etc (Scotland) Bill

I said that we would not vote for the bill. However, we will not vote against it either—we intend to abstain. If we have indicated that we intend neither to vote for nor to vote against the bill, the conclusion must be that we intend to abstain on it.

Mrs McIntosh: Con Chamber

05 Mar 2003

Homelessness etc (Scotland) Bill

I have answered that question.

Mrs McIntosh: Con Chamber

05 Mar 2003

Homelessness etc (Scotland) Bill

We will not vote against it.

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): Con Chamber

05 Mar 2003

Homelessness etc (Scotland) Bill

I take this opportunity to thank the clerks of the Social Justice Committee for all their hard work on the Homelessness etc (Scotland) Bill—as ever, they have been invaluable. I also thank all the organisations and individuals who took the time to aid us in our scrutiny of the...

Mrs McIntosh: Con Chamber

05 Mar 2003

Homelessness etc (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Presiding Officer, my understanding is that Ms Fabiani said during the debate that she would not move amendment 17.

Mrs McIntosh: Con Chamber

05 Mar 2003

Homelessness etc (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

I was part of the group of members who voted with Kenny Gibson to support Jackie Baillie's amendment at stage 2. I was moved and impressed by the comments that were made then, which were particularly appropriate as it was around Christmas time, which is when people think about...

Mrs McIntosh: Con Chamber

05 Mar 2003

Homelessness etc (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

I have heard everything that has been said. I say to Johann Lamont that it was not my intention that support would only ever come through local authority housing departments. There is a crucial role for health and education. It was never my intention to sideline the amendment ...

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): Con Chamber

05 Mar 2003

Homelessness etc (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Amendment 5 would introduce a requirement for local authorities to consider a household's support needs as well as its accommodation needs when undertaking a homelessness assessment.The experience of many local authorities is that tenancies break down quickly if support is not...

Mrs McIntosh: Con Committee

04 Mar 2003

Legacy Paper

We made progress when we held our meeting to celebrate the European year of disabled people. We took the trouble to find better, more accessible accommodation.

Mrs McIntosh: Con Committee

04 Mar 2003

Legacy Paper

When we held our civic participation event in Aberdeen, accommodation accessibility was a problem, which does not bode well, as we are the Equal Opportunities Committee. I appreciate that the property in question was not ours and that things would have been much easier if we h...

Mrs McIntosh: Con Committee

04 Mar 2003

Legacy Paper

I want to say something about paragraph 30 of the paper—the matter cropped up in the plenary debate on Thursday afternoon. The committee's third civic participation event was held in May 2002, when the Parliament sat in Aberdeen. Members commented on the accessibility of the m...

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): Con Committee

04 Mar 2003

Equal Opportunities Training

As I understand it, one of the outside organisations that is connected with the SPCB, the Scottish Parliament and Business Exchange, made overtures in respect of personal safety training for MSPs' staff. One of the questions that was raised was whether the training should be c...

Mrs McIntosh: Con Chamber

27 Feb 2003

European Year of Disabled People

Indeed. I will mention Helen Eadie last, as she was the last to speak of the members whom I have mentioned. She was right to mention accessibility in the new Parliament. I have seen people stuck in doors, too. Even in this chamber, we do not make things easy for anybody with d...

Mrs McIntosh: Con Chamber

27 Feb 2003

European Year of Disabled People

I am glad that you are back.I will continue where I left off. I agree with the steering group's aim to engage young people in the events in order to raise awareness of the difficulties that disabled children face within the education system and those that they will face as adu...

Mrs McIntosh: Con Chamber

27 Feb 2003

European Year of Disabled People

Oh, thank you, senior Deputy Presiding Officer. I am convinced that the man who was sitting in your chair earlier was winding the clock forward during my speech.

Mrs McIntosh: Con Chamber

27 Feb 2003

European Year of Disabled People

In that case, I have one or two other points that I will bring to members' attention when I sum up.

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): Con Chamber

27 Feb 2003

European Year of Disabled People

I welcome the Executive debate on the European year of disabled people, which we support whole-heartedly. The main aim of the year is to raise awareness of the rights of people with disabilities to protection against discrimination and to full and equal enjoyment of their righ...

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): Con Chamber

27 Feb 2003

Question Time · Child Care

Child care costs have become an issue, even in the Parliament. Does the minister agree that we should ensure that those most in need are targeted and given help with child care costs? Surely that should be the minister's aim.

Mrs McIntosh: Con Chamber

26 Feb 2003

Looked-after Children (Education)

I am familiar with the concept.

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): Con Chamber

26 Feb 2003

Looked-after Children (Education)

On what we can do to help children, I am interested in the progress and the achievements that are being made in certain areas, but does the minister agree that the one thing that looked-after children desperately miss out on is the support of a family? They miss having somebod...

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): Con Chamber

19 Feb 2003

Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

I do not know how much clearer we need to be, but Conservative members are not in favour of abusing or battering children. There is a distinction to be made. Please do not portray us as thinking that it is all right to batter children. That is not right in anybody's book.

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): Con Chamber

19 Feb 2003

Forth Valley (New Hospital)

I intend to make only a small contribution to today's debate on the motion in the name of Brian Monteith, whom I congratulate on securing time in the chamber for today's discussion.Obviously, we all have our own viewpoint as to where the new hospital should be. I fully underst...

Mrs McIntosh: Con Committee

18 Feb 2003

Legacy Paper

Sycophantic?

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): Con Committee

18 Feb 2003

Legacy Paper

Do you mean timetabling?

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): Con Chamber

06 Feb 2003

Question Time · Gypsies and Travellers

Is the minister aware that concerns are being expressed in North Lanarkshire about the reduction in the number of sites that will be available to Gypsy Travellers? Can she respond positively to those concerns?

Mrs McIntosh: Con Chamber

05 Feb 2003

Under-age Drinking

Johann Lamont must have been through the same experience.Until I was about 15, the drink that was regularly proffered was Harvey's Bristol cream. My grandmother had no concept of Coca-Cola, and I always associate Harvey's Bristol cream with the festive season. I also think of ...

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): Con Chamber

05 Feb 2003

Under-age Drinking

I support the motion in Trish Godman's name on under-age drinking and congratulate her on securing the debate.When David McLetchie asked me whether I would handle the Conservative contribution to the debate, I had to question why he thought me most suited to the role. What had...

Mrs McIntosh: Con Committee

04 Feb 2003

Mainstreaming Equality

It is not just window dressing.

Mrs McIntosh: Con Committee

04 Feb 2003

Mainstreaming Equality

I would not say no to you.

Mrs McIntosh: Con Committee

04 Feb 2003

Mainstreaming Equality

You will have to battle again. Will the resource consequences be serious for the Executive? I have every confidence that you will obtain the resources.

Mrs McIntosh: Con Committee

04 Feb 2003

Mainstreaming Equality

There is no doubt that the feedback that we have had from bits and pieces of work with committees is that, sometimes, we can over-consult. The feedback is: do not talk about it, just do it.We have spoken about your general thoughts. Meeting the resource implications will be po...

Mrs McIntosh: Con Committee

04 Feb 2003

Mainstreaming Equality

I am back again, minister. I want to move on to mainstreaming equality. Do you have general comments on the draft equality guidelines that the committee is proposing?

Mrs McIntosh: Con Committee

04 Feb 2003

Mainstreaming Equality

The next thing that I wanted to ask about was mainstreaming equality.

Mrs McIntosh: Con Committee

04 Feb 2003

Mainstreaming Equality

There is no need to apologise.

Mrs McIntosh: Con Committee

04 Feb 2003

Mainstreaming Equality

There is no doubt that discrimination is not easy to measure; indeed, we had a debate about that a couple of months ago.Can you tell me what progress the Executive has made on its promise to develop appropriate equality indicators with statutory equality bodies and equality in...