Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 22 March 2011
22 Mar 2011 · S3 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
First Minister’s Question Time
Secretary of State for Scotland (Meetings)
I willingly congratulate Jack McConnell’s constituent. That is a tremendous and inspiring story for us all and an example that we should all follow.
In a few minutes’ time I will have an opportunity to say a word about departing MSPs in general, but first I pay particular tribute to my predecessor as First Minister, Jack McConnell. Perhaps we agreed on rather more than we were ever prepared to admit when we were crossing swords, but there is no doubt that as First Minister and as a member he has made a substantial contribution to the Parliament and a very substantial contribution to Scottish society. We wish him well. [Applause.]
In a few minutes’ time I will have an opportunity to say a word about departing MSPs in general, but first I pay particular tribute to my predecessor as First Minister, Jack McConnell. Perhaps we agreed on rather more than we were ever prepared to admit when we were crossing swords, but there is no doubt that as First Minister and as a member he has made a substantial contribution to the Parliament and a very substantial contribution to Scottish society. We wish him well. [Applause.]
In the same item of business
Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD)
LD
3. To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Secretary of State for Scotland. (S3F-2980)
The First Minister (Alex Salmond)
SNP
I have no plans to meet the Secretary of State for Scotland in the course of today.
Tavish Scott
LD
As happened eight years ago, the parliamentary session ends with men and women from our armed forces in conflict. This time, however, the war is not illegal ...
The First Minister
SNP
I strongly support our air bases, which are under threat.I will respond to Tavish Scott’s broader point. I think that every member in the Parliament supports...
Tavish Scott
LD
I support those words on the legality of the current position and I will continue to make that case.There is broad cross-party agreement about the importance...
The First Minister
SNP
As Tavish Scott should well know, we have never argued against conventional weaponry in the Faslane base. Indeed, he and I, along with the other party leader...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
There is a supplementary question from Jack McConnell.
Jack McConnell (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab)
Lab
With your permission, Presiding Officer—and I expect that I am speaking for all retiring members of the Scottish Parliament—in advance of my question I take ...
The First Minister
SNP
I willingly congratulate Jack McConnell’s constituent. That is a tremendous and inspiring story for us all and an example that we should all follow.In a few ...