Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 21 May 2014
21 May 2014 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Motion of No Confidence
Just the other day, as deputy convener of the Health and Sport Committee, I took part in a robust evidence session with health boards about their budgets. Health boards are not shrinking violets; they say what they think, and they make what they think clear. No decision was taken by Mr Neil. His position was well known; it was publicly known 15 months ago that he sought agreement with NHS Lanarkshire. However, if there was no agreement to be sought, the decision would have been taken by Michael Matheson, our Minister for Public Health. There was no conflict of interest.
I want to tell the chamber one final thing. Labour members might have a view of Government that it simply goes into robotic mode and rubberstamps things; they do not take the view that they can think for themselves. I expect—[Interruption.]
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-10088, in the name of Neil Findlay, on a motion of no confidence. 15:32
Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
As the Scottish Government’s mental health strategy states, mental illness is one of the greatest health challenges that we face. However, with appropriate a...
The Minister for Public Health (Michael Matheson)
SNP
Some facts would be helpful for this debate. Upon his appointment as health secretary on 5 September 2012, Alex Neil examined a number of key areas in his p...
Neil Findlay
Lab
Mr Matheson was the deputy when Ms Sturgeon made her decision, then the deputy when Mr Neil made his decision. What was his view on each of those occasions?
Michael Matheson
SNP
If we deal with the facts Mr Findlay, we might make some progress on this matter—Interruption.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Order.
Michael Matheson
SNP
—rather than just inventing things for the purpose of getting a few headlines. Those are the facts, and they are a matter of public record. The reality is...
Michael McMahon (Uddingston and Bellshill) (Lab)
Lab
If the minister wants to move on to that issue, can he tell us on what basis, when Nicola Sturgeon signed off the option appraisal that showed option 1 as th...
Michael Matheson
SNP
Michael McMahon might be interested to know the view of NHS Lanarkshire on the proposed option, which it stated would enable “the most contemporary provisio...
Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
Will the minister give way?
Michael Matheson
SNP
I need to make progress. Members can disagree with what I have said and argue that they would have come to a different conclusion, and it is their right to ...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Order.
Michael Matheson
SNP
He did so without fear or favour. If Labour members wish to argue against that decision, that is their right, but that is not what they are doing. They are t...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Order. 15:50
John Lamont (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Con
A motion of no confidence is a very serious matter and not one that the Scottish Conservatives take lightly. After careful consideration, we will be supporti...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
We move to a very short open debate. I call Bob Doris, to be followed by John Pentland. I can give both of you no more than four minutes. 15:54
Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP)
SNP
Integrity applies to every member in this chamber, including our Opposition members. I feel that they have not passed that test this afternoon. We are being...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Order!
Bob Doris
SNP
He is the man who has worked in partnership with the Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee to develop a vastly improved system of access to new medicines i...
Dr Simpson
Lab
Will the member give way?
Bob Doris
SNP
No, thanks. Let me tell the chamber something I know about health boards—Interruption.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The member is not taking the intervention. Order!
Bob Doris
SNP
Just the other day, as deputy convener of the Health and Sport Committee, I took part in a robust evidence session with health boards about their budgets. He...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Order!
Bob Doris
SNP
Someone must have held up a sign saying, “Clap!” there. Labour members were certainly not thinking for themselves. I expect a cabinet secretary for health t...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Will members please stop barracking the member and let us hear what he has to say?
Bob Doris
SNP
As I said to Lewis Macdonald in a previous debate, the louder the Labour Party speaks, the more it realises that it is on shaky ground and that there is noth...
John Pentland (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab)
Lab
Lanarkshire’s mental health plan was about far more than the two wards at Monklands, but they were Alex Neil’s main focus, even as cabinet secretary. The pla...
The First Minister (Alex Salmond)
SNP
I want to take us into three areas of the debate. The first is the question of transparency, on which I will spend some time, because I want to be able to ...
Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab)
Lab
Will the First Minister take an intervention?