Hansard

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): Lab Chamber

29 Mar 2007

SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE · Antisocial Behaviour

Does the minister agree that prevention is always better than cure and that politicians of all parties should take heed of the words of the head of Scotland's violence reduction unit, who said that early years investment in health visitors, social workers and teachers is every...

Susan Deacon: Lab Chamber

22 Mar 2007

Education

I entirely agree.In that context, I highlight the role of enterprise education. Although it has developed tremendously, it needs to be much more about fostering an enterprise culture. It should not just be about teaching business; it should be about encouraging people to be en...

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): Lab Chamber

22 Mar 2007

Education

It is a pleasure to follow Margo MacDonald. As ever, she made a genuinely independent contribution—in every sense of the word.Perhaps this is a time for reflection and confession. I do not mind admitting that a certain by-election in the early 1970s, when I saw a very strong a...

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): Lab Committee

22 Mar 2007

Subordinate Legislation

Thank you.

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

13 Mar 2007

European Structural Funds

I am conscious that Christine May was rather apologetic about raising the matter, so I stress that it is helpful that she did so. There are many issues that need to be addressed and we have touched on some of them today, but we are conscious that today's meeting of the committ...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

13 Mar 2007

Legacy Paper

That was easy.My other two points are more about process and the lessons that we have learned as a committee. I wonder whether it is worth including a point about opportunities for cross-sectoral or thematic discussions. I shall explain what I mean. Another committee of which ...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

13 Mar 2007

Legacy Paper

I have three points. There has been a lot of formal and informal discussion about our legacy paper, so if there is a good reason why my points are not in it, please tell me. We were asked to pay particular attention to the topics on page 7 of paper 6. We identified previously ...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

13 Mar 2007

Sport 21 and Sports Policy

I do not disagree at all with Professor Coalter's analysis. I certainly do not view sport as a cost rather than an investment. The point that I was making was that it is incumbent on everyone who works in sports—and, indeed, other sectors—to consider how they pool their effort...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

13 Mar 2007

Sport 21 and Sports Policy

Convener, is it possible to correct something or will you not allow that?

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

13 Mar 2007

Sport 21 and Sports Policy

A host of things has been said and I am sure that we could all continue to explore them, but I will pick up on just a few of the strands.I am struck by what I am hearing. David Arnott and Fred Coalter said something like the wheel is still being reinvented. I echo the point th...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

13 Mar 2007

Sport 21 and Sports Policy

This is an interesting discussion but, to be slightly provocative for a moment, it feels as if we are perhaps not being as challenging, either with ourselves or with one another, as we could or should be. I will throw a few thoughts into the melting pot for others to shoot dow...

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): Lab Committee

13 Mar 2007

Sport 21 and Sports Policy

I am the MSP for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh.

Susan Deacon: Lab Chamber

01 Mar 2007

SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE · Enterprise Education

I thank the minister for his answer and welcome the progress that has been made on this important programme. However, as I am sure he is aware, local and national evaluations of the determined to succeed programme show that the direct involvement of business people in the desi...

2. Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): Lab Chamber

01 Mar 2007

SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE · Enterprise Education

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to increase the involvement of business people, both at a local and national level, in the development and delivery of enterprise education in schools in line with the determined to succeed strategy. (S2O-12218)

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): Lab Chamber

28 Feb 2007

Prostitution (Public Places) (Scotland) Bill

I welcome the resources that have been announced today, but with reference to a number of colleagues' comments, will the minister assure us that, given the particular focus of those resources, the Executive will continue to address the far wider range of services and support t...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

27 Feb 2007

Committee Reports (Responses)

Before you formally close the meeting, convener, it would be appropriate for us, as members of the committee, to put on record our appreciation of your contribution as convener. You have been colourful in more ways than one but have been very fair at all times and have often p...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

27 Feb 2007

Committee Reports (Responses)

In a sense, I am loth to prolong debate on this issue, which we have been considering for some time. I have one comment in response to the reply that we have received. For me, the letter reinforces a view that I expressed at our previous meeting. Although the examples that are...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

27 Feb 2007

Accounts Commission

As a quick postscript, I add that I am conscious of the emphasis that has been placed on protocols in the transition. We had protocols in the Parliament in the early stages, and I am not convinced that they resolved some of the issues. I simply leave that sticking to the wall.

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

27 Feb 2007

Accounts Commission

I want to ask specifically about management or leadership capacity among officials. Your report talks about political governance, and we have talked a lot about the departure of elected members and the associated influx of new ones but, as you and the convener mentioned, there...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

27 Feb 2007

Accounts Commission

I would like to think a bit more about the leadership and governance issues that you touched on earlier, with specific reference to the transition period that we are now in. In your comments today and in the report, an awful lot of the analysis is couched in the language of ri...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

27 Feb 2007

Accounts Commission

I am grateful for that answer and pleased that it is not just about enabling the public to offer input. An awful lot of it is about feedback and communication. Often, views and concerns are fed into the process—they go into the sausage machine—but it does not feel that way to ...

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): Lab Committee

27 Feb 2007

Accounts Commission

I have several issues to ask about, the first of which is best value. Many of us have lived through the genesis, growth and evolution of best value. I, for one, am persuaded that it is an altogether more effective approach than what went before; however, there is still a way t...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

13 Feb 2007

Business in the Parliament Conference

That is the special meeting to discuss the SSI.

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

13 Feb 2007

Business in the Parliament Conference

I want to check that the more qualitative discussion that we had during our debrief on the previous conference has been captured. This paper focuses on the structure and timing of the conference, whereas a big part of our wash-up conversation was about its tone. We discussed s...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

13 Feb 2007

Legacy Paper

That is what I thought.In paragraphs 8 and 9, which are about working practices, we need—for clarity if nothing else—to distinguish between what is formal and informal, what is private and not private and what takes place in a round table and across the table. The variations o...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

13 Feb 2007

Legacy Paper

It is important to make it clear that we have not made a change; we just did not adopt the practice, although some committees have. I agree absolutely that we should not go down that road.

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

13 Feb 2007

Legacy Paper

I say—to avoid doubt—that I agree completely with the convener. However, I am a bit confused. Karen Gillon referred to "the change" and we have talked about agreeing to the change and dispensing with the practice. I do not think that the committee has ever used prepared questi...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

13 Feb 2007

Transport and General Workers Union (Meeting)

To build on what has already been said, I suggest that it is worth commissioning work on the issue, or at least setting the ball rolling, via the Scottish Parliament information centre. I am always careful not to commission research papers casually, because I know that a lot o...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

13 Feb 2007

Transport and General Workers Union (Meeting)

I should also confess my membership of the TGWU—although "confess" might not be the right word.I have no difficulty with colleagues meeting the union. However, all members are saying that it is not the committee's job to consider a specific case, so I seek clarification on wha...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

13 Feb 2007

Creative Scotland

My final question, which I will try to keep brief, is about future gazing—if the minister can do that—and expressing hopes for the future. It is fair to say that, since devolution, culture has been the subject of much activity. Without question, culture has risen up the agenda...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

13 Feb 2007

Creative Scotland

I will stick with the theme of being fleet of foot, for want of a better phrase. How will the creation of creative Scotland and the forthcoming legislation be managed to ensure that valuable time, energy and momentum are not lost in structural reorganisation or the legislative...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

13 Feb 2007

Creative Scotland

To underpin the fostering of co-operation and collaboration, which I suspect all committee members support, do you envisage any mechanisms that will put in place the systems or practices that are required to ensure that co-operation? How much of that can be achieved voluntaril...

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): Lab Committee

13 Feb 2007

Creative Scotland

I apologise for missing your opening remarks; I am sure that you will be quick to tell me if you have already addressed issues that I will raise. You talked earlier about the importance of being fleet of foot. I want to ask you about three aspects of the decision-making infras...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

13 Feb 2007

Auditor General for Scotland Reports (Responses)

Thank you.

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

13 Feb 2007

Auditor General for Scotland Reports (Responses)

Thank you, convener.Everything I read in the response confirms that view.I do not know whether Audit Scotland is in a position to comment, but I have a specific question. The response is a lengthy document about revised governance structures. I know that Audit Scotland picked ...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

13 Feb 2007

Auditor General for Scotland Reports (Responses)

The pace of change is like that, but the pace of change in the NHS in Scotland is—

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

13 Feb 2007

Auditor General for Scotland Reports (Responses)

I am conscious that I missed the meeting at which the committee considered the report in detail, but I read it at the time and I have refreshed my recollection of it.I read the Executive's response. I am looking for colleagues or Audit Scotland to disabuse me of the most treme...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

13 Feb 2007

Audit Scotland<br />(Work Programme)

I am not sure whether this is a question; perhaps the Auditor General could regard it as user feedback. I have found it interesting to follow the evolution and development of Audit Scotland's work programme over a number of years. The preamble to "Audit Scotland Programme of P...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

13 Feb 2007

Teaching Profession

I will pick up on several strands of what has been said. I suspect that I am in legacy mode again. I was struck by Andrew Welsh's concern that a review was being offered as action in response to us. I am often the first person to rail against the use of reviews and consultatio...

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): Lab Committee

13 Feb 2007

Teaching Profession

There is a problem with the Executive response. To be fair, the problem derives not from the response but from our report. Indeed, the problem can be said to derive from our consideration of issues such as the McCrone agreement, in which we swing so much from the strategic to ...

Susan Deacon: Lab Chamber

31 Jan 2007

Health Board Elections (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Will the member acknowledge that the NHS is the only part of the public sector that has a direct line of accountability, through a Cabinet minister, to Parliament? Surely that is democracy.

Susan Deacon: Lab Chamber

31 Jan 2007

Health Board Elections (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Will the member give way?

Susan Deacon: Lab Chamber

31 Jan 2007

Health Board Elections (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I cannot for the moment.As I said, in the case of the health service, we need the highest possible standards of leadership and management, which will come from many different people: from clinical leadership and, yes—I dare to say it—from managers. It will also come from peopl...

Susan Deacon: Lab Chamber

31 Jan 2007

Health Board Elections (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

What I am arguing—I have argued the point passionately throughout my political and professional life—is that we need leadership of the highest order, particularly in our public services. The structures and governance arrangements that we put in place will differ for different ...

Susan Deacon: Lab Chamber

31 Jan 2007

Health Board Elections (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I would like to make a bit more progress.The other thing that any of us who have served in government can testify to is that change is hard. As others have acknowledged, it requires difficult and sometimes unpopular decisions to be taken.If I may dust down another bit of ancie...

Susan Deacon: Lab Chamber

31 Jan 2007

Health Board Elections (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Not right now.I would support the bill if I thought for a moment that it would do anything to add value to the process of leading change, but I truly believe that it will not.We can all agree that what the NHS in Scotland needs is first-class leadership, first-class management...

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): Lab Chamber

31 Jan 2007

Health Board Elections (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

For the past couple of days, the chamber has rung with voices from across the world, talking about the need for us to embrace and accelerate the pace of change and recognising how important it is to innovate, to be creative, to be flexible and to modernise. As politicians, we ...

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): Lab Chamber

24 Jan 2007

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History Month

I join colleagues in congratulating Patrick Harvie on securing this debate. Although I recognise the contributions that many organisations have made to LGBT history month and its associated activities and congratulate them on them, I single out for special mention LGBT Youth S...

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): Lab Committee

23 Jan 2007

Treatment of Drug Users

Convener, I am grateful for the opportunity to attend today's meeting. Part of the reason for my interest in the subject—this will be the third parliamentary committee that I have voluntarily attended today—is that, over the past couple of years, I have been involved in a Unit...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

23 Jan 2007

Creative Scotland

Richard Holloway has been appointed as chair of that organisation. The creation of any new organisation is always an opportunity to take a fresh look at things and lay down markers for the future. I challenge anyone around the table to set out what they think are the immediate...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

23 Jan 2007

Creative Scotland

I would like to take the discussion back to some nuts-and-bolts issues around the transition to creative Scotland. I recognise that the debate about the desirability of that particular structure is continuing. There have been lengthy discussions and disagreements on the way to...

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): Lab Committee

23 Jan 2007

Creative Scotland

I am Susan Deacon, Labour MSP for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh.

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

23 Jan 2007

“Implementing the NHS consultant contract in Scotland”

Notwithstanding the comments and criticisms that we have all made, it is important for us to make wider comments and not to lose sight of the big picture. There are echoes of discussions that we have had about the McCrone deal and the overarching aims of some of the big pay re...

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): Lab Committee

23 Jan 2007

“Implementing the NHS consultant contract in Scotland”

I have some sympathy with the comments that Margaret Jamieson just made. Although I accept that many of the examples of good practice that are listed have been brought about by the new contract—in other words, the contract has been used to lever those changes—many groups withi...

Susan Deacon: Lab Chamber

18 Jan 2007

SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE · Seafield Waste Water Treatment Works

I take this opportunity to welcome the minister to her new portfolio. I know that she has a greater insight into the issue than most—it spans many years—and am sure that she shares my frustration and that of many hundreds, if not thousands, of other people in Edinburgh that a ...

4. Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): Lab Chamber

18 Jan 2007

SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE · Seafield Waste Water Treatment Works

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in tackling odour emissions from Seafield waste water treatment works. (S2O-11686)

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

16 Jan 2007

Legacy Paper

I am not sure that that is true, but the quality of the advice that we got from Wolfgang Michalski was particularly good and our relationship was particularly positive. There is maybe something to be picked up in that.I have a suggestion about the process of drawing up our leg...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

16 Jan 2007

“Growing older and wiser together—A futures view on positive ageing”

I knew that there was a sub-heading or something about working lives.The inflexibility that exists in our workplaces is a much wider issue. Progress is proving to be stubbornly slow in respect of the transformation that is necessary for the workplace to accommodate not only th...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

16 Jan 2007

“Growing older and wiser together—A futures view on positive ageing”

I will comment on the point that Christine May just made. I am struck that certain issues that are raised in the report cast light on our attitude to aging, while other aspects cast light on some of society's other attitudes. I am desperately trying to remember the title of th...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

16 Jan 2007

“Growing older and wiser together—A futures view on positive ageing”

I want to pick up where the convener left off, not by asking a question, but by commenting on the thinking behind the report. The report is extremely helpful and it is excellent that, through the futures forum, the Parliament has taken forward such thinking, which helps to mak...