Chamber
Plenary, 20 Mar 2003
20 Mar 2003 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
First Minister's Question Time
Armed Forces (Family Support)
Will the First Minister convey a message to all the armed services and in particular to regimental associations in branches and clubs of the Royal British Legion Scotland to express the whole-hearted support of members of the Parliament for Scottish servicemen and women as they carry out their dangerous duty to make Iraq safe for the Iraqi people? Will he ensure that every part of the Executive, local authorities and other agencies do everything in their power to support and assist service families, including using all possible means to facilitate telephone or radio contacts between service personnel and their families?
In the same item of business
3. Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab):
Lab
To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Executive is taking to support families of servicemen and servicewomen based in the gulf area. (S1F-2613)
The First Minister (Mr Jack McConnell):
Lab
I think—Interruption. I am surprised that members of the Scottish nationalist party who represent constituencies that have large numbers of families of Briti...
Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP):
SSP
Cheap shot.
The First Minister:
Lab
It was not a cheap shot. Interruption. Presiding Officer, it is not right for me to respond to sedentary comments that are made around the chamber.
The Presiding Officer (Sir David Steel):
NPA
Quite.
The First Minister:
Lab
The matter is serious. Interruption.
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
Order. The question has been asked and I do not understand why interruptions are being made.
The First Minister:
Lab
The matter is serious. I have a constituent who has four sons in the gulf. We all have constituents who are in such a position and we should take their welfa...
Mr Home Robertson:
Lab
Will the First Minister convey a message to all the armed services and in particular to regimental associations in branches and clubs of the Royal British Le...
The First Minister:
Lab
The provision of those services is largely a matter for the Ministry of Defence and I do not want to encroach on its responsibilities. However, we will do al...
Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con):
Con
I urge the First Minister not to forget those families in the next few weeks as elections loom. I urge him to visit some of the military units and their base...
The First Minister:
Lab
I would be happy to do that and I have approached the Ministry of Defence with a view to making myself available if that would be helpful. However, I am mind...