Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith) Lab

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-09133, in the name of Graeme Pearson, on justice. I call Graeme Pearson to speak to and move the motion.1...

Graeme Pearson (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I am grateful for the opportunity to move the motion and speak in support of it. I note that the rather wordy amendment from the Government focuses on what w...

Mark McDonald (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) SNP

Will the member give way?

Graeme Pearson Lab

I am happy to give way.

Mark McDonald SNP

Like many other members, I have made representations about the service control centre that is based in my constituency. Given that the member backed the crea...

Graeme Pearson Lab

I am very grateful for that question. I hope that it is meant in the good faith in which it is received. We have a different approach to what is being delive...

The Cabinet Secretary for Justice (Kenny MacAskill) SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Graeme Pearson Lab

I am happy to do so.

Kenny MacAskill SNP

Is the member aware that, in 2004, the previous Labour-Liberal Executive moved from eight to three ambulance command-and-control centres? Was that wrong?

Graeme Pearson Lab

I do not know whether that was wrong or right at the time; I am suggesting to the cabinet secretary that the past couple of years presented Scotland with a r...

The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick) NPA

I need to get you to wind up, Mr Pearson.

Graeme Pearson Lab

I will.He committed to getting the bank to deliver services that are important to its customers. The cabinet secretary needs to focus on locally based servic...

The Cabinet Secretary for Justice (Kenny MacAskill) SNP

I welcome the opportunity to respond to Graeme Pearson in this Labour debate.At a time when we are 11 months into the historic reform of our police and fire ...

Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Lab) Lab

If the SPA and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are so engaged in community planning, how come there was no consultation with local communities before th...

Kenny MacAskill SNP

There are procedures that have been agreed by the unions and management on how consultation should be carried out, given the legal requirements on redundancy...

Lewis Macdonald (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Does the cabinet secretary not appreciate that Elaine Murray’s question, rather than being about consultation with staff regarding redundancy, which is clear...

Kenny MacAskill SNP

Those consultations and discussions are on-going. The whole purpose of community planning is that people get together in the same room. Indeed, that is why w...

Graeme Pearson Lab

Will the cabinet secretary give way?

Kenny MacAskill SNP

I will make some progress and then I will come back to the member.What is more, the SPA and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Board have designated board ...

Graeme Pearson Lab

Would the cabinet secretary at least acknowledge that consultation normally means having the ability to have some impact on a decision before it is made, as ...

Kenny MacAskill SNP

The consultation is on-going and the police will discuss and debate the issue. At this point, however, I want to put on record that the police are most certa...

Alex Fergusson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Con

Does the cabinet secretary accept that the Wickerman festival has run very smoothly ever since it was first brought into being and before it had the so-calle...

Kenny MacAskill SNP

It has run smoothly but I think that the additional officers were welcome. I also remember meeting officers in the area when Annan was playing Rangers. I und...

Aileen McLeod (South Scotland) (SNP) SNP

The cabinet secretary will be aware of concern in Dumfries about how members of staff can realistically benefit from any relocation opportunities that arise ...

Kenny MacAskill SNP

The chief constable is making every effort to engage; indeed, when I met him last week, we discussed the matter. Discussions are on-going and everyone is hap...

Graeme Pearson Lab

Will the cabinet secretary give way?

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab

Will the cabinet secretary give way?

The Presiding Officer NPA

The cabinet secretary is in his last 30 seconds.

Kenny MacAskill SNP

Eleven months on, we have already successfully delivered the £42 million of savings that were identified for year 1. We can look forward to Scotland’s outsta...

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

I rise to support Graeme Pearson’s motion. I do so because of my own experience.When I was listening to the minister, I became slightly worried that he was g...