Chamber
Plenary, 28 May 2003
28 May 2003 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Scottish Executive's Programme
I thank the First Minister for his statement and for the advance copy that he made available to us.
I give a warm welcome to a number of the measures that are in the Government statement. The introduction of the Gaelic language bill, the determination to have a strategic transport authority and the commitments to strategic environmental assessment, to proportional representation for local government and to the abolition of national health service trusts are all welcome. Of course, they formed part of the Scottish National Party's election manifesto. We are glad that the partnership has taken some good ideas from the SNP. We will be able to support other commonsense measures in the fullness of time.
I am disappointed that the First Minister's statement said nothing about the measures that the Government intends to take to guarantee the payment of compensation to hepatitis C sufferers who have been contaminated as a result of errors in the national health service. I am also concerned about the absence of any reference to measures that the Government intends to take to tackle poverty. That was a notable absence.
I have three specific questions for the First Minister. First, the First Minister was long on detail on every aspect of his programme, with the exception of the economy. We have had 40 years of low economic growth and we now have zero economic growth—the lowest economic growth rate in Europe. The Government's breakthrough measure is to modernise the laws of personal bankruptcy and diligence. That will hardly stimulate economic growth in Scotland. It tells us all that we need to know about the Executive—it is high on ambitions but has no powers to deliver the real economic change that people require.
The First Minister said that Governments could not legislate for economic growth. However, real Governments can legislate to reduce business burdens, deregulate and cut the business costs that companies in our country must endure. What specific measures that his Government has not tried in the past four years will the First Minister introduce in the next four years to deliver economic growth of which this country can be proud?
Secondly, the Government says that it will tackle crime and disorder by reducing violent and drug-related crime and cutting reoffending on the very day that it is announced that violent crime and drug crime are at a 10-year high. Will the First Minister give Parliament a commitment today that he will increase not only the number of operational officers but the total number of police officers on Scotland's streets? That would reflect the consensus that exists among the SNP, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats on the need for a real-terms increase in police numbers within Scotland.
Thirdly, will the First Minister take this opportunity to respond to the comments made by a number of his Westminster colleagues over the weekend? They made remarks to the effect that the introduction of proportional representation for local government would be calamitous for the Labour party's power bases in Scotland and that they would do everything in their power to derail the measure. Will he take the opportunity to tell those Labour MPs that PR for local government is a devolved matter and that his Government is determined to introduce it? Will he give a guarantee to Parliament that his Government will do so in time for the 2007 elections? Quite simply, will he tell those Labour MPs to mind their own business?
I give a warm welcome to a number of the measures that are in the Government statement. The introduction of the Gaelic language bill, the determination to have a strategic transport authority and the commitments to strategic environmental assessment, to proportional representation for local government and to the abolition of national health service trusts are all welcome. Of course, they formed part of the Scottish National Party's election manifesto. We are glad that the partnership has taken some good ideas from the SNP. We will be able to support other commonsense measures in the fullness of time.
I am disappointed that the First Minister's statement said nothing about the measures that the Government intends to take to guarantee the payment of compensation to hepatitis C sufferers who have been contaminated as a result of errors in the national health service. I am also concerned about the absence of any reference to measures that the Government intends to take to tackle poverty. That was a notable absence.
I have three specific questions for the First Minister. First, the First Minister was long on detail on every aspect of his programme, with the exception of the economy. We have had 40 years of low economic growth and we now have zero economic growth—the lowest economic growth rate in Europe. The Government's breakthrough measure is to modernise the laws of personal bankruptcy and diligence. That will hardly stimulate economic growth in Scotland. It tells us all that we need to know about the Executive—it is high on ambitions but has no powers to deliver the real economic change that people require.
The First Minister said that Governments could not legislate for economic growth. However, real Governments can legislate to reduce business burdens, deregulate and cut the business costs that companies in our country must endure. What specific measures that his Government has not tried in the past four years will the First Minister introduce in the next four years to deliver economic growth of which this country can be proud?
Secondly, the Government says that it will tackle crime and disorder by reducing violent and drug-related crime and cutting reoffending on the very day that it is announced that violent crime and drug crime are at a 10-year high. Will the First Minister give Parliament a commitment today that he will increase not only the number of operational officers but the total number of police officers on Scotland's streets? That would reflect the consensus that exists among the SNP, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats on the need for a real-terms increase in police numbers within Scotland.
Thirdly, will the First Minister take this opportunity to respond to the comments made by a number of his Westminster colleagues over the weekend? They made remarks to the effect that the introduction of proportional representation for local government would be calamitous for the Labour party's power bases in Scotland and that they would do everything in their power to derail the measure. Will he take the opportunity to tell those Labour MPs that PR for local government is a devolved matter and that his Government is determined to introduce it? Will he give a guarantee to Parliament that his Government will do so in time for the 2007 elections? Quite simply, will he tell those Labour MPs to mind their own business?
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
NPA
The next item of business is a statement by the First Minister on the programme of the Scottish Executive. As the First Minister will take questions at the e...
The First Minister (Mr Jack McConnell):
Lab
I would like to make a statement outlining our Government's programme for the coming year. I will set out the major elements of our programme and announce ou...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
The First Minister will now take questions. The next 58 minutes are not about making mini-statements; they are about posing clear questions and providing ans...
Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP):
SNP
I thank the First Minister for his statement and for the advance copy that he made available to us.I give a warm welcome to a number of the measures that are...
The First Minister:
Lab
I believe that the policies of the Labour party are generally in the best interests of Scotland, but I certainly have no intention of putting the internal in...
David McLetchie (Edinburgh Pentlands) (Con):
Con
I thank the First Minister for providing an advance copy of his statement to Parliament.The size of the challenge facing the Administration has been graphica...
The First Minister:
Lab
As we are in a new parliamentary session, it might be time to hear a new speech. If Mr McLetchie had paid any attention to my statement on the programme, he ...
Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green):
Green
I welcome the commitments to proportional representation, strategic environmental assessment—which is most welcome—and a nature conservancy bill. The commitm...
The First Minister:
Lab
I regard the impact on the environment as a key social impact and it should also be a key economic impact. That thread runs through the partnership agreement...
Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP):
SSP
I heard the First Minister talk in his statement about creating a Scotland to be proud of. However, I do not recognise in his statement the priorities that t...
The First Minister:
Lab
Like some other speakers, Mr Sheridan should be a little more honest and not refer to the abolition of the council tax as if we could abolish tax systems and...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
We move on to quick questions and answers on single issues.
Mrs Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD):
I welcome the record investment that is to be made on health and agree that that investment has to be matched by improved service delivery. Primary care is o...
The First Minister:
Lab
I will try to answer all the questions briefly before you stop me at some point because of time constraints, Presiding Officer.We hope to go to a ballot on t...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
In fairness to the First Minister and other members, I will take only one single-issue question from members from now on.
Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome the fact that the First Minister stated explicitly that growing the Scottish economy is the top priority for the Executive. Does he agree on the im...
The First Minister:
Lab
The people who criticise us for not legislating enough on the economy are the same people who will criticise us for having too much legislation on the econom...
Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP):
SNP
It is astonishing that only one line in the First Minister's statement referred to Europe. Given the changes in the European Union that are currently being d...
The First Minister:
Lab
We have had a significant impact on the debate in the European convention in respect of the role of the devolved regional and national legislatures in the Eu...
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con):
Con
Is the First Minister aware that, in Scotland, there is an assault on a member of school staff roughly every 15 minutes? Given those circumstances, will he r...
The First Minister:
Lab
First, I should point out that the target for exclusion reduction has been misrepresented. No head teacher or teacher anywhere in Scotland should misread tha...
Mr Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab):
Lab
I was pleased to stand on Labour's manifesto, which pledged to alleviate student hardship further through a review of the level of student bursaries. I am al...
The First Minister:
Lab
A number of areas need to be reviewed, and we will address them systematically in the course of this parliamentary session. We need to review the level of st...
Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Although I welcome the First Minister's commitment to creating sustainable rural communities, is he aware that, as of today, not one penny of the £50 million...
The First Minister:
Lab
I have no intention of giving any commitments to Mr Lochhead, given his history of total misrepresentation of negotiations and the situation with Scottish fi...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green):
Green
Given much of our media's unfair portrayal of our young people as out of control, chaotic criminals who make the lives of others unbearable, does the First M...
The First Minister:
Lab
Where does one start?Monitoring young people electronically is significantly better than locking them up, if it is better for them and ensures that they can ...
Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab):
Lab
Will the First Minister give details about specific policies in the programme for tackling poverty, deprivation and inequality? For example, will policies be...
The First Minister:
Lab
I believe that the policies that we have outlined to create more jobs, deliver higher economic growth, secure more opportunities for young people and improve...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
In view of the First Minister's welcome statement that he wishes to see the creation of conditions for economic growth, will he assure us that the Executive ...