Chamber
Plenary, 01 Nov 2001
01 Nov 2001 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
First Minister's Question Time
Hospitals (New Developments)
SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
I thank the First Minister for visiting Lanarkshire on Monday and opening the second new hospital in Lanarkshire this year. Does the First Minister agree that the provision of high-quality, modern hospitals must be complemented by a highly skilled, motivated and valued staff team? Does he also agree that the new, unified boards can play a significant part in strengthening communication between NHS staff and management?
In the same item of business
3. Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab):
Lab
To ask the First Minister what progress is being made with the Scottish Executive's programme of new hospital developments. (S1F-1344)
The First Minister (Henry McLeish):
Lab
The current hospital building programme—the largest in the history of the NHS in Scotland—involves eight hospital developments. To date, the new health facil...
Karen Whitefield:
Lab
I thank the First Minister for visiting Lanarkshire on Monday and opening the second new hospital in Lanarkshire this year. Does the First Minister agree tha...
The First Minister:
Lab
I agree with Karen Whitefield that the quality of staff is the most vital part of the national health service. We have not only the best technology and build...
Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP):
SNP
On the question of new hospital developments, is the First Minister aware that Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust is required to pay £1.9 million a year ...
The First Minister:
Lab
I appreciate the point that Nicola Sturgeon makes and I am sure that the Minister for Health and Community Care also acknowledges her point. We are moving ah...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
I am afraid that we have not done well with questions today because of points of order. I am obliged to move on to the next—
Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab):
Lab
On a point of order.
Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West):
*
On a point of order.
Iain Smith (North-East Fife) (LD):
LD
On a point of order.
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
All right. We have finished question time, but I will take points of order, starting with John Home Robertson.
Mr Home Robertson:
Lab
My point follows on from the point of order that Iain Smith raised a few minutes ago. I understand that you do not have discretion to extend question time, S...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
That is a fair point. In the past, I have often asked members to keep their points of order to the end. I do not make up the rules—I am obliged to follow the...
Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con) rose—
Con
Dennis Canavan:
*
I was going to raise the same point of order as that raised by John Home Robertson.
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
I am sympathetic to that point of order.
Iain Smith:
LD
I was going to raise the same point, Presiding Officer, and to suggest that you ask the Procedures Committee to examine whether points of order should not be...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
Iain Smith's final point is a matter for my discretion. I think that Mr Swinney and Mr McLetchie would agree that we have frequent conversations on that subj...
Mr Tosh:
Con
Would you accept a motion without notice to suspend standing orders in order to allow the extension of question time by 10 minutes? Members: "Hear, hear."
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
I would have to suspend all of standing orders, which I do not think would be wise. Let us learn a lesson today: points of order take time away from question...
Meeting closed at 15:32.