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Every contribution to the Official Report — chamber and committee — searchable in one place. Pulled from data.parliament.scot, indexed for full-text search, linked through to every MSP.

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Showing 60 of 2,355,091 contributions. Latest 30 days: 148. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 14 May 2026.
George Foulkes Lab Chamber
17 Mar 2011
Scottish Executive Question Time · Forests (Grant Recipients)
I would hesitate to suggest such a thing. Let us have the real reason, then. Why are the names being withheld?
George Foulkes Lab Chamber
17 Mar 2011
Scottish Executive Question Time · Forests (Grant Recipients)
With respect, that is a load of rubbish. I keep getting lectures that our freedom of information regime in Scotland is better than it is in the rest of the UK. I have the replies for England, in which everyone is named. For Wales, everyone who got money is named. For Scotland,...
George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab) Lab Chamber
17 Mar 2011
Scottish Executive Question Time · Forests (Grant Recipients)
1. To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason, in response to freedom of information requests, it has chosen not to reveal the names of recipients of grants in relation to forests. (S3O-13341)
George Foulkes Lab Chamber
10 Mar 2011
Local Services
The battle lines are drawn. Does Mike Rumbles support Danny Alexander’s proposal to cut police pay?
George Foulkes Lab Chamber
10 Mar 2011
Local Services
I have been here every minute of the debate.
George Foulkes Lab Chamber
10 Mar 2011
Local Services
Will the member give way?
George Foulkes Lab Chamber
10 Mar 2011
Local Services
The only way to learn is to listen, not to talk, and Rumbles never listens.I am talking about localism and the funding cuts that have been led by Councillor Dawe. The most recent cuts, to the disabled workforce, have put people’s lives at risk. The work that is being done by d...
George Foulkes Lab Chamber
10 Mar 2011
Local Services
Yes. The one thing about Mike Rumbles is that he talks and talks and talks, but he seldom listens. The only way to learn—
George Foulkes Lab Chamber
10 Mar 2011
Local Services
This is all about localism. Mr Brown might have a desire to take over from you as Deputy Presiding Officer, but I hope that in May the electorate will ensure that that is not possible.Councillor Dawe could have held up her hands and accepted the conclusions in the Public Audit...
George Foulkes Lab Chamber
10 Mar 2011
Local Services
Och—in a moment.At no point during the 13 years of the Labour Government did I ever hear a Liberal Democrat or, indeed, a Tory say, “Spend less,” “Don’t spend as much, Gordon,” or “Don’t spend all that, Alistair.” It was quite the reverse. They wanted more to be spent on the h...
George Foulkes Lab Chamber
10 Mar 2011
Local Services
It is certainly more exciting when I am there than when I am not. That is for sure.The Liberal Democrats keep trying to represent themselves as the nice party, the one that is different from the Tories and the Labour Party and the Punch and Judy show that they put on, but now ...
George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab) Lab Chamber
10 Mar 2011
Local Services
Like you, Presiding Officer, I am not seeking re-election in May. I will genuinely miss the friendship of many committed and hard-working members of the Scottish Parliament—including you, Presiding Officer—from all parties. I do not think that it is yet fully recognised around...
George Foulkes Lab Chamber
10 Mar 2011
Local Services
I am not clear whether Jeremy Purvis is arguing in favour of a separate police force for the Borders. Is that what he is proposing?
George Foulkes Lab Chamber
10 Mar 2011
Local Services
At the recent party conference, Robert Brown’s party leader said that the Liberal Democrats planned to cut concessionary fares for the elderly.
George Foulkes Lab Chamber
10 Mar 2011
Local Services
Robert Brown is talking about the elderly. Does he support the policy announced by Tavish Scott to cut concessionary fares for the elderly?
George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab) Lab Chamber
10 Mar 2011
Local Services
Will Robert Brown take an intervention?
George Foulkes Lab Chamber
03 Mar 2011
Scottish Executive Question Time · Edinburgh Tram Project
I commend the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth for intervening to enable the mediation process to take place. We hope that it will reach a successful conclusion.The Auditor General for Scotland has recommended that Transport Scotland take a more active role...
George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab) Lab Chamber
03 Mar 2011
Scottish Executive Question Time · Edinburgh Tram Project
13. To ask the Scottish Executive whether Transport Scotland will take a more active role in the delivery of the Edinburgh tram project. (S3O-13131)
George Foulkes Lab Chamber
03 Mar 2011
“Session 3 reports of the Public Audit Committee—key themes”
I commend the cabinet secretary on the way in which he has intervened in that matter. Will he respond to those of us who are still here on the question whether he will consider intervening in relation to the creditors who are still due money from The Gathering 2009 Ltd? Does h...
George Foulkes Lab Chamber
03 Mar 2011
“Session 3 reports of the Public Audit Committee—key themes”
No.That is a looming fiasco, which a future Public Audit Committee will have to look at.The third is the unacceptable and unexpected cost increases for electronic ticketing machine technology on buses to calculate the use of buses by elderly and disabled people, which Hugh Hen...
George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab) Lab Chamber
03 Mar 2011
“Session 3 reports of the Public Audit Committee—key themes”
I join in the effusive congratulations to my colleague Hugh Henry on his tenacious work as convener of the Public Audit Committee, which culminated in his award as politician of the year and the committee’s as committee of the year. As Willie Coffey ably illustrated, it has be...
George Foulkes Lab Committee
02 Mar 2011
Public Audit Committee Report (Response)
Is this what we are debating tomorrow?
George Foulkes Lab Committee
02 Mar 2011
Public Audit Committee Report (Response)
What happens now?
George Foulkes Lab Committee
02 Mar 2011
Public Audit Committee Report (Response)
On the key themes?
George Foulkes Lab Committee
02 Mar 2011
Section 23 Report
Okay. You will write to us with a full and detailed response. I am surprised that you have not thought about the issue, but I look forward to receiving your letter.
George Foulkes Lab Committee
02 Mar 2011
Section 23 Report
You have not started to think about it yet.
George Foulkes Lab Committee
02 Mar 2011
Section 23 Report
If you are aware of the issue, can you tell me whether new legislation would be needed to include travel on the trams in the concessionary fares scheme?
George Foulkes Lab Committee
02 Mar 2011
Section 23 Report
I am not asking you for commitments; I am asking about your awareness of the issue. You are aware of the issue.
George Foulkes Lab Committee
02 Mar 2011
Section 23 Report
I am not asking you to give commitments. I am asking you whether it would be prudent for you, as director of Transport Scotland, to be thinking about the implications of the trams project for the concessionary fares scheme that the Scottish Government operates.
George Foulkes Lab Committee
02 Mar 2011
Section 23 Report
You do not think that it would be wise to have a look at it. There is an independent budget review of concessionary fares. Would it not be prudent to include that issue in that review?
George Foulkes Lab Committee
02 Mar 2011
Section 23 Report
Have you not thought of looking at it?
George Foulkes Lab Committee
02 Mar 2011
Section 23 Report
I can tell you that that is what we were told. Assuming that the trams and the buses will be run together as a unified operation—that is the evidence that we got last week—will travel on the trams be covered by the concessionary fares scheme that the Scottish Government operates?
George Foulkes Lab Committee
02 Mar 2011
Section 23 Report
You cannot remember.
George Foulkes Lab Committee
02 Mar 2011
Section 23 Report
You did not see that part of the evidence. Did you have a look at the evidence?
George Foulkes Lab Committee
02 Mar 2011
Section 23 Report
I want to ask about an entirely different matter. From what you said earlier, it is obvious that you have reviewed the evidence that we got from the City of Edinburgh Council and TIE the other week, so you will have seen that TIE and the council envisage that the trams and the...
George Foulkes Lab Committee
02 Mar 2011
Section 23 Report
How was that different to when you were on the board? In spite of all the questions, you have not indicated the trigger that prompted you to say, “Hey, we’ve got to get off this board.”
George Foulkes Lab Committee
02 Mar 2011
Section 23 Report
You mean it had not got into trouble.
George Foulkes Lab Committee
02 Mar 2011
Section 23 Report
I have an entirely different point that I want to raise at some point, convener, when we have time. Mr Middleton, your reply to Anne McLaughlin has confused me. You said that it is not standard practice to be on this kind of board—that it is bad governance to be on it and good...
George Foulkes Lab Committee
02 Mar 2011
Section 23 Report
I think that that is a yes. Thank you.
George Foulkes Lab Committee
02 Mar 2011
Section 23 Report
This is my last question. Is it not true, Mr Middleton, that under your directorship Transport Scotland has now reverted to being just like any other department of the Scottish Executive?
George Foulkes Lab Committee
02 Mar 2011
Section 23 Report
We know that. Transport Scotland was a member of the project board—it is not as if you declined to be a member. Did you not think that withdrawing from day-to-day participation on the project board would send a negative signal to the City of Edinburgh Council?10:00
George Foulkes Lab Committee
02 Mar 2011
Section 23 Report
You are not, however, like an ordinary department of Government. Transport Scotland was set up to be an agency that would help to ensure proper delivery. You opted out of the trams project. Why?
George Foulkes Lab Committee
02 Mar 2011
Section 23 Report
Why did you see this project merely as a sort of accounting exercise in which you check the expenditure every six months and pay on receipt of invoice rather than one in which you would get involved? Surely Transport Scotland should have used the expertise that it has built up...
George Foulkes Lab Committee
02 Mar 2011
Section 23 Report
Is that still the case?
George Foulkes Lab Committee
02 Mar 2011
Section 23 Report
It has special emphasis on expertise in transport projects.
George Foulkes Lab Committee
02 Mar 2011
Section 23 Report
When Transport Scotland was set up, my recollection is that it was set up as a hands-on agency at arm’s length from Government, if you excuse the mixed metaphor. Is that right?
George Foulkes Lab Chamber
02 Mar 2011
Fuel Duty
I wonder whether Jim Hume can help me. Does he believe that keeping us all here for an extra two hours to debate an issue that is reserved to Westminster is worth while? Would he not be better going down to Westminster, grabbing hold of Danny Alexander by the collar and making...
George Foulkes Lab Chamber
02 Mar 2011
Fuel Duty
Oy, oy!
George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab) Lab Chamber
02 Mar 2011
Fuel Duty
Will the member take an intervention?
George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab) Lab Chamber
24 Feb 2011
Regeneration
I confirm everything that Alex Neil said. Cumnock and Doon Enterprise Trust was a very well-run enterprise company, and he did the job very well. I am sorry that since then he has not progressed as much as we had all hoped.
George Foulkes Lab Committee
23 Feb 2011
Section 23 Reports
Led by Lothian Buses?
George Foulkes Lab Committee
23 Feb 2011
Section 23 Reports
My understanding is that you were planning to co-ordinate the administration of the buses and trams and that David Mackay would be chair of both. However, he has given up and you are now advertising for a new chairman of Lothian Buses. Do you still plan to integrate the two op...
George Foulkes Lab Committee
23 Feb 2011
Section 23 Reports
Can you explain TIF a little more?
George Foulkes Lab Committee
23 Feb 2011
Section 23 Reports
Yes, TIF. I could not remember the acronym. Would the council look at such things?
George Foulkes Lab Committee
23 Feb 2011
Section 23 Reports
But there are two or three possible additional sources of funding: the Scottish Futures Trust, if it continues to exist, and the other one, which is for infrastructure development. I have forgotten the name of it.
George Foulkes Lab Committee
23 Feb 2011
Section 23 Reports
Excellent. I was also encouraged by Donald McGougan’s answer to the convener’s question, in which he talked about the 10-year plan. Can I take it that you hope that the extension to Leith, Newhaven and Granton will be included in the council’s forward plan?
George Foulkes Lab Committee
23 Feb 2011
Section 23 Reports
I very much welcome Willie Coffey’s positive remarks about the scheme—it is good to get such endorsement from Kilmarnock. I want to follow up his question, which Dave Anderson started to answer, and which was helpful. The aim is to get agreement as quickly as possible to get t...
George Foulkes Lab Committee
23 Feb 2011
Section 23 Reports
You just have to read—
George Foulkes Lab Committee
23 Feb 2011
Section 23 Reports
I think that it was before your time—although perhaps people who were there before your time can confirm that. It is not helpful to have a joint administration—or a coalition, such as we have in London now—in which one part is enthusiastic about a project and the other part do...
George Foulkes Lab Committee
23 Feb 2011
Section 23 Reports
On a number of occasions, you have confirmed what the Auditor General said—that ownership lies with City of Edinburgh Council. Nicol Stephen has just referred to that again.I would like you to be really honest about this. Are you not being a bit coy and a bit cautious about th...
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Chamber

Meeting of the Parliament 17 March 2011

17 Mar 2011 · S3 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Scottish Executive Question Time
Forests (Grant Recipients)
General Questions
Foulkes, George Lab Lothians Watch on SPTV
I would hesitate to suggest such a thing. Let us have the real reason, then. Why are the names being withheld?

In the same item of business

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab) Lab
1. To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason, in response to freedom of information requests, it has chosen not to reveal the names of recipients of gran...
The Minister for the Environment and Climate Change (Roseanna Cunningham) SNP
The European Court of Justice has made a judgment that the European Commission’s regulation on the matter imposed excessive requirements on the publication o...
George Foulkes Lab
With respect, that is a load of rubbish. I keep getting lectures that our freedom of information regime in Scotland is better than it is in the rest of the U...
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning (Michael Russell) SNP
That is a disgrace.
The Presiding Officer (Alex Fergusson) NPA
Order. A question, please, Lord Foulkes.
George Foulkes Lab
I would hesitate to suggest such a thing. Let us have the real reason, then. Why are the names being withheld?
Roseanna Cunningham SNP
I thought that I gave a clear, calm explanation of the current position in respect of the legal advice that the Government received. I do not know whether La...