Hansard

Andy Kerr Lab Chamber

22 Mar 2011

First Minister’s Question Time · First-time Home Buyers

The First Minister did not mention the Scottish National Party’s 2007 manifesto commitment to introduce a grant of £2,000 for first-time home buyers. He could not mention it because he did not offer it. When we return to this place in six weeks or so, will the First Minister—f...

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab) Lab Chamber

22 Mar 2011

First Minister’s Question Time · First-time Home Buyers

5. To ask the First Minister what support the Scottish Government is offering to first-time home buyers. (S3F-2986)

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab) Lab Chamber

09 Mar 2011

“Report on preventative spending”

I place on record my thanks to Andrew Welsh for his contribution to the Parliament and its workings. I also thank the Finance Committee for its report.Having listened to this afternoon’s debate, I think that we should reflect on some measures that we have taken. We should not ...

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab) Lab Chamber

03 Mar 2011

Scottish Executive Question Time · School Buildings (Local Authority Funding)

Schools are a vital part of our infrastructure programme. The Scottish National Party Government emptied that programme of nearly £1 billion, largely due to its view on private finance. I welcome the complete reversal of the Government’s position on the use of private finance,...

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab) Lab Chamber

10 Feb 2011

Scottish Executive Question Time · Monklands Hospital (Bed Numbers)

Come on, come on, Presiding Officer.

Andy Kerr Lab Chamber

10 Feb 2011

Scottish Executive Question Time · Chronic Pain Services

I welcome the cabinet secretary’s response to my question. I take heart from some of the efforts that are being made regarding chronic pain management.I am aware that a number of our constituents from throughout Scotland have to travel elsewhere in the country, for instance to...

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab) Lab Chamber

10 Feb 2011

Scottish Executive Question Time · Chronic Pain Services

14. To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it is making for patients with chronic pain. (S3O-12971)

Andy Kerr Lab Chamber

09 Feb 2011

Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill: Stage 3

The cabinet secretary reads out our list for us, but what he says does not reflect the conversations or discussions. In my speech at stage 1, I quoted from what was said at the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee. Respected academics and businesspeople were saying that the S...

Andy Kerr Lab Chamber

09 Feb 2011

Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill: Stage 3

If the cabinet secretary carries out such a review, will the member also ask him for a forward look on his adoption of PPP for the building of major road projects?

Andy Kerr Lab Chamber

09 Feb 2011

Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill: Stage 3

Will the member inform the chamber of the weekly savings that a band D household in Dundee will make from the council tax freeze? When it came to the retail levy, we listened to the views of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers—the workers’ representatives.

Andy Kerr Lab Chamber

09 Feb 2011

Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill: Stage 3

What would he say to his UK coalition partners—the Lib Dems have made the biggest mistake in UK politics for a long time—about regulation? They advocated to Gordon Brown a reduction in regulation to create more avenues for the banks to make money, and their view was shared by ...

Andy Kerr Lab Chamber

09 Feb 2011

Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill: Stage 3

I refer the member to my earlier speech. We stand for the progressive majority in Scotland, but on the point—Interruption.

Andy Kerr Lab Chamber

09 Feb 2011

Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill: Stage 3

Will the member take an intervention?

Andy Kerr Lab Chamber

09 Feb 2011

Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill: Stage 3

From my eight years in government, I recall that the SNP lodged only one amendment to the budget. I also recall that in the negotiations around the SNP Government’s first budget, we put forward 20 amendments, one of which—on police—was rejected by the SNP, which then went roun...

Andy Kerr Lab Chamber

09 Feb 2011

Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill: Stage 3

In a second, when the member might answer my next point.We have been nothing but consistent in our view of this Government’s investment in infrastructure. It got things badly wrong from the outset; it has refused to change its position in four years; it emptied the pipeline of...

Andy Kerr Lab Chamber

09 Feb 2011

Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill: Stage 3

We do not want half measures. Labour offers full measures and we will ensure that we deliver those in government. The budget has moved 0.1 per cent. Let us remember what folk—they are not from the Labour Party—say about the budget. Peter Wood, director of Optimal Economics, sa...

Andy Kerr Lab Chamber

09 Feb 2011

Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill: Stage 3

Mr Swinney offers box ticking on arrangements around parties. He offers half measures while Labour offers full measures. The SNP Government has been saved by the very coalition parties that seek to wreak havoc in our public services and economy in Scotland. On four occasions J...

Andy Kerr Lab Chamber

09 Feb 2011

Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill: Stage 3

I have met Mr Swinney and his colleagues on many occasions in the past few weeks to discuss matters that are dear to our hearts. While we have been having those conversations, a lot has happened in our economy. Lloyds Banking Group has announced 200 job losses, mainly in insur...

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab) Lab Chamber

09 Feb 2011

Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill: Stage 3

Of course, a Government’s budget is not only a list of spending commitments such as the one that we have just heard. Cumulatively, over the years, line by line in every budget, the figures add up to a statement of the Government’s values. Those values will give direction to al...

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab) Lab Chamber

03 Feb 2011

Scottish Executive Question Time · M8

On the subject of the non-profit-distributing model, will the minister first agree that it is a form of public-private partnership? Secondly, can he provide any academic or other evidence to suggest that the cost to the public sector is less than under other models of public-p...

Andy Kerr Lab Chamber

03 Feb 2011

Scottish Executive Question Time · Broadband (Speed Target)

I am pleased that my question prompted such a meeting to take place this morning and I appreciate what the minister has done. When countries around the world are aspiring to higher broadband speed, I hope that it is within the gift of the Government and the industry, which is ...

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab) Lab Chamber

03 Feb 2011

Scottish Executive Question Time · Broadband (Speed Target)

2. To ask the Scottish Executive what representations have been made to the United Kingdom Government regarding the postponement of the minimum broadband speed target of 2 megabits per second from 2012 to 2015. (S3O-12875)

Andy Kerr Lab Chamber

02 Feb 2011

Non-Domestic Rates (Levying) (Scotland) (No 3) Regulations 2010

Would the cabinet secretary care to inform the chamber that the valuation systems north and south of the border were out of kilter? Valuations down south were different from those in Scotland.

Andy Kerr Lab Chamber

02 Feb 2011

Non-Domestic Rates (Levying) (Scotland) (No 3) Regulations 2010

John Hannett is the leader of the workers on whom the SNP’s tax will have the greatest impact. He said:“The proposed levy is at such a high rate that it is likely to impact retailers’ decisions on whether to open new stores or expand existing ones, both of which could mean Sco...

Andy Kerr Lab Chamber

02 Feb 2011

Non-Domestic Rates (Levying) (Scotland) (No 3) Regulations 2010

Labour is not in a position to support this unacceptable policy, which was created by an SNP Government in crisis. As we have seen from leaked documents from the First Minister’s office, people were given 24 hours to come up with business ideas, because the SNP has an election...

Andy Kerr Lab Chamber

02 Feb 2011

Non-Domestic Rates (Levying) (Scotland) (No 3) Regulations 2010

I am not sure about that part of the country, but I know that the new Sainsbury’s in Strathaven has enhanced the retail offer and the shops are surviving and doing well. Is the member suggesting that we use a tax measure to change completely the planning structure and our appr...

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab) Lab Chamber

02 Feb 2011

Non-Domestic Rates (Levying) (Scotland) (No 3) Regulations 2010

In last week’s debate on the budget, I said that rising unemployment was the signal failure of nearly four years of SNP Government. When John Swinney delivered his first budget, Scotland had the lowest rate of unemployment; now it has the highest.It is worth reflecting on the ...

Andy Kerr Lab Chamber

26 Jan 2011

Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill: Stage 1

I remind the member that one of the current Government’s ministers refused to take interventions, so his point was hardly worth while. As for ideas, there is the Scottish future jobs fund, with a guaranteed apprenticeship for all those who are capable of taking one up, and of ...

Andy Kerr Lab Chamber

26 Jan 2011

Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill: Stage 1

Will the member give way on that point?

Andy Kerr Lab Chamber

26 Jan 2011

Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill: Stage 1

Will the member take an intervention?

Andy Kerr Lab Chamber

26 Jan 2011

Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill: Stage 1

We set about creating parity. Perhaps the cabinet secretary will compare his actions today to his manifesto promise that rates in Scotland would not rise above rates in England. They have just done that in relation to the supermarket tax. Labour tried to give the cabinet secre...

Andy Kerr Lab Chamber

26 Jan 2011

Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill: Stage 1

We set about—Interruption.

Andy Kerr Lab Chamber

26 Jan 2011

Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill: Stage 1

Not in my words, but in the words of The Sun, the budget was described as “The great Swinney swindle”. He did not even have the ability to respond to all-party demands in the chamber for an accurate projection of future expenditure. He has deliberately chosen to keep local aut...

Andy Kerr Lab Chamber

26 Jan 2011

Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill: Stage 1

The kids who are in schools that are decaying around them are not laughing, Mr Swinney. The people in our hospitals who require better care are not laughing, and the 40,000 construction workers who have lost their jobs because of Mr Swinney’s inability to make the Scottish Fut...

Andy Kerr Lab Chamber

26 Jan 2011

Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill: Stage 1

I will not at the moment, thanks.In four years, Mr Swinney has brought forward four budgets. He has slashed the funding to enterprise, to energy and tourism, to housing and regeneration and to higher and further education, which—as the convener of the Finance Committee said—ar...

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab) Lab Chamber

26 Jan 2011

Budget (Scotland) (No 5) Bill: Stage 1

I thank the convener of the Finance Committee for his report to the Parliament.However, from looking at the budget, I believe that the signal failure of nearly four years of Scottish National Party Government is clear for everyone to see. When John Swinney delivered his first ...

Andy Kerr Lab Committee

25 Jan 2011

Scottish Variable Rate Inquiry

It has been a pleasure.

Andy Kerr Lab Committee

25 Jan 2011

Scottish Variable Rate Inquiry

Yes.

Andy Kerr Lab Committee

25 Jan 2011

Scottish Variable Rate Inquiry

Yes, it is. We paid to maintain a state of readiness, whether that capacity involved IT people, resources or database maintenance. The £50,000 cost allowed us to introduce the variable rate.

Andy Kerr Lab Committee

25 Jan 2011

Scottish Variable Rate Inquiry

An important point is that if I had not decided to spend £50,000 per annum, retrofitting to allow the SVR to be used would have cost us £10 million. The decision was good financial management and judgment.

Andy Kerr Lab Committee

25 Jan 2011

Scottish Variable Rate Inquiry

The note from Richard Dennis of 7 July 2003 said:“maintaining the infrastructure at the ten-months’ state will be ... £200,000 across the life of the Parliament”,which was a substantial reduction.

Andy Kerr Lab Committee

25 Jan 2011

Scottish Variable Rate Inquiry

I am referring to what I know.

Andy Kerr Lab Committee

25 Jan 2011

Scottish Variable Rate Inquiry

No, it cost us £50,000 per annum, which was £200,000 over the lifetime of a Government. That was a price worth paying to support the principles of the referendum decision in 1997.

Andy Kerr Lab Committee

25 Jan 2011

Scottish Variable Rate Inquiry

I did not see a room with desks, headphones and computers. I saw a space that a call centre would occupy, should it be required.

Andy Kerr Lab Committee

25 Jan 2011

Scottish Variable Rate Inquiry

I did not see a traditional call centre.

Andy Kerr Lab Committee

25 Jan 2011

Scottish Variable Rate Inquiry

Sorry?

Andy Kerr Lab Committee

25 Jan 2011

Scottish Variable Rate Inquiry

It was HMRC’s system that we were paying for, convener. It had capacity, because the system emanated not from the Scottish Government but from the Inland Revenue, which is now HMRC.

Andy Kerr Lab Committee

25 Jan 2011

Scottish Variable Rate Inquiry

To be honest, I am not sure whether that part of the Inland Revenue offices is still there, but there was a physical space to allow the call centre to be used.

Andy Kerr Lab Committee

25 Jan 2011

Scottish Variable Rate Inquiry

First, I know from the minutes that I have seen that we reduced the cost of the capacity to call down the system and put it into use within the 10-month notice period. Secondly, HMRC, or the Inland Revenue as it was, was taking its own efficiency measures at the time—although ...

Andy Kerr Lab Committee

25 Jan 2011

Scottish Variable Rate Inquiry

Such discussions happened fairly regularly, for example in relation to national negotiations. We would have an input into the negotiations and state our position.If I had ever concluded that Scottish taxpayers were not getting their fair shake, the first place that I would hav...

Andy Kerr Lab Committee

25 Jan 2011

Scottish Variable Rate Inquiry

The substantive documents relating to my involvement—the minute that I received and my response—have been produced. All that is missing are the arrangements for the visit to East Kilbride, which I expected to see. I cannot remember when I made the visit, but I was definitely t...

Andy Kerr Lab Committee

25 Jan 2011

Scottish Variable Rate Inquiry

That is loose language that does not describe the situation in any way. I would like to question those individuals who used that language. I would not have signed away £200,000-worth of Scottish taxpayers’ money for a mothballed system, but I would have signed money away for a...

Andy Kerr Lab Committee

25 Jan 2011

Scottish Variable Rate Inquiry

To answer the question directly, I was quite happy not just with the written information that I received, which is contained in the note of 7 July, but with the discussions that I had with officials regarding the whole mechanism. I recall having a meeting with officials regard...

Andy Kerr Lab Committee

25 Jan 2011

Scottish Variable Rate Inquiry

What checks were made? We had an agreement with HMRC to undertake the work and, if any substantive change required us to be notified, that would have been done. There was certainly an assumption, and reality, that we would expect the service to be delivered because nobody told...

Andy Kerr Lab Committee

25 Jan 2011

Scottish Variable Rate Inquiry

Yes.

Andy Kerr Lab Committee

25 Jan 2011

Scottish Variable Rate Inquiry

We should bear in mind what Lord McConnell said in response to your previous question about predicting the cost of information technology systems, which is a difficult thing to do. Costs can come down as well as go up. The note from Richard Dennis of 7 July 2003 indicates that...

Andy Kerr Lab Committee

25 Jan 2011

Scottish Variable Rate Inquiry

I have a fairly simple point to add. If a party campaigns to either increase or decrease taxation in Scotland, it will present a budget in some form that would achieve that objective. I think that your question is based on a technical premise, but the politics would dictate th...

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab) Lab Committee

25 Jan 2011

Scottish Variable Rate Inquiry

My evidence will be brief. I refer members to the note of 7 July 2003 from Richard Dennis. Following the election in that year, I had a straightforward role, which was to make a decision based on the advice that I had been given. In his note, Richard Dennis talked about mainta...

Andy Kerr Lab Chamber

20 Jan 2011

Scottish Executive Question Time · Scottish Court Service (Weapons)

I welcome the initiatives that have been taken to ensure that weapons are confiscated and people are brought to justice as a result. However, we know that, in Aberdeen and Dundee sheriff courts, hundreds of people have had so little regard for the minister’s soft-touch approac...

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab) Lab Chamber

20 Jan 2011

Scottish Executive Question Time · Scottish Court Service (Weapons)

5. To ask the Scottish Executive how many knives and other weapons have been seized by the Scottish Court Service since 2007. (S3O-12646)