Chamber
Plenary, 27 Feb 2003
27 Feb 2003 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Ambulance Service (Wick)
I welcome Jamie Stone's motion and am pleased to be able to take the opportunity to discuss the ambulance service, particularly in relation to the Wick area. If members will bear with me, I will make some general comments about how the ambulance service in Scotland has been developed during recent years.
In response to Duncan Hamilton's statement about members' attendance, I say that the member knows that members' business debates are often fairly thinly attended because of the nature of members' other business. I am sure that members who are interested will look to the Official Report of the debate and will take an interest.
I wonder about Duncan Hamilton's position. Only eight SNP members turned up to vote through stage 3 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill just over a week ago. People should get their priorities in order.
In response to Duncan Hamilton's statement about members' attendance, I say that the member knows that members' business debates are often fairly thinly attended because of the nature of members' other business. I am sure that members who are interested will look to the Official Report of the debate and will take an interest.
I wonder about Duncan Hamilton's position. Only eight SNP members turned up to vote through stage 3 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill just over a week ago. People should get their priorities in order.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Mr Murray Tosh):
Con
The final item of business is a members' business debate on the Wick ambulance service.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament recognises the vital work of the Wick ambulance service; is concerned at the lack of additional funding that was made available to the Hi...
Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD):
LD
When eventually I finish work tonight, after we have concluded a short meeting on the Holyrood project at perhaps 7 o'clock or 8 o'clock, I shall drive home ...
Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP):
SNP
I congratulate Jamie Stone on securing the debate on this important issue for his constituency.As Jamie Stone said, there was when I was elected a similar si...
Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
I congratulate Jamie Stone on highlighting the ambulance service in this way, because the service is of the utmost importance to people's lives. In a perfect...
John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD):
LD
I am thankful for the opportunity to take part in this debate and I thank Jamie Stone for bringing it before Parliament.Much of what Jamie Stone has told mem...
Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
I have two initial points, one of consensus and one of discord. I join other members in welcoming the debate and congratulating Jamie Stone on securing it, b...
The Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care (Mrs Mary Mulligan):
Lab
I welcome Jamie Stone's motion and am pleased to be able to take the opportunity to discuss the ambulance service, particularly in relation to the Wick area....
Mr Hamilton:
SNP
Will the minister take an intervention?
Mrs Mulligan:
Lab
I will not give way to the member just yet. I may do so later, if I have time, but I have a lot of points to respond to.As the first session of the new Parli...
Mr McGrigor:
Con
I hear what the minister is saying about upgrading, and I agree with that. Wick has Caithness general hospital, yet trips have to be made all the time to Rai...
Mrs Mulligan:
Lab
Almost all the out-of-hours calls are dealt with locally in Wick. Transfers are the exception, not the rule. We must see the picture as it is.In addition to ...
Meeting closed at 17:36.