Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Murray Tosh): Con

The next item of business is a debate on motion S2M-5349, in the name of John Swinney, on post offices.

Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): SNP

This debate is an opportunity for the Parliament to express its concern about the future of the post office network in Scotland and the sweeping changes that...

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): Lab

I am pleased to speak in this debate. My constituency is both urban and rural, and constituents, particularly those belonging to the National Federation of S...

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): Con

I welcome the debate. As we have heard, the future of the rural sub-post office network is a vital issue for much of Scotland. I appreciate that support for ...

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): SNP

Given what the member has just said, and given the impact of the issue on vulnerable communities, does the member not find it quite disgraceful that not a si...

Murdo Fraser: Con

Christine Grahame makes a fair point. The motion and the Labour amendment refer to the Scottish Executive but no one is here to represent the Executive's vie...

Dr Jackson: Lab

Will the member give way?

Murdo Fraser: Con

I would like to make some progress, if I may. The Labour Government uses as its excuse for those closures the fact that post office revenue has declined. The...

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): Lab

Will the member take an intervention?

Murdo Fraser: Con

I am afraid that I am in my last minute, Mr McNeil. The Government introduced the Post Office card account then pledged to discontinue it but, in the teeth o...

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): LD

The future of our post offices is an important, although reserved issue. Research by the Liberal Democrat party indicates that between 1999 and this year, ju...

Murdo Fraser: Con

Is it still Liberal Democrat policy to privatise the Post Office?

Euan Robson: LD

It is not and never has been Liberal Democrat policy to privatise the Post Office, and Mr Fraser is clearly mistaken in his view that it was.The UK Governmen...

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): SSP

It is important to place the debate in context, including a political context. The Central Scotland region lost a total of 19 post offices in the most recent...

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): SNP

I am delighted that the SNP has chosen to debate this vital issue, but I am extremely disappointed that ministers have chosen to be absent. That shows contem...

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): Lab

Presiding Officer, if you will indulge me, I will welcome to the Parliament the pupils from Earnhill primary school in my constituency. I am sure that everyo...

Mr Swinney: SNP

Look behind you!

Mr McNeil: Lab

How would the story go if the fairy godmother across the Thames—possibly played by Ian Krankie, with Jimmy Krankie as Nicola—waved her magic wand and made Sc...

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): Green

I am grateful to the SNP for giving us another opportunity to discuss in the chamber the future of the post office network.The motion that we are debating re...

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): LD

Post offices are the lifeblood of communities in both rural and urban areas, particularly when they are combined with other services, such as the local shop....

Richard Lochhead: SNP

If the Liberal Democrats take the issue so seriously, why are their ministers absent from today's important debate?

Nora Radcliffe: LD

That is not worth answering.The UK Government will not extend its card contract beyond 2010, claiming that it never intended to renew the POCA contract. That...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman): Lab

You should finish now, Ms Radcliffe.

Nora Radcliffe: LD

Post offices play a crucial role in the community, particularly in rural areas, and must be protected. Much could and should be done to maintain a unique net...

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (Sol): Sol

I welcome the debate, which provides an opportunity to discuss the future of the post office network.Over the past few months I have visited a number of sub-...

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): SNP

One of the roots of the problem is that there has been not a lack of Government support but a lack of consistent Government support for the post office netwo...

The Deputy Presiding Officer: Lab

We move to winding-up speeches. Carolyn Leckie has a tight four minutes.

Carolyn Leckie: SSP

I will do my best to stay within that time.I want to pick up on issues that I did not have time to talk about earlier. A big argument, on the wider impact of...

The Deputy Presiding Officer: Lab

You should be finishing now, Ms Leckie.

Carolyn Leckie: SSP

What is the position of Labour MSPs? None of them has commented on that. Will Labour members support the position of the 39 Labour MPs who opposed the franch...