Chamber
Plenary, 21 Dec 2006
21 Dec 2006 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
First Minister's Question Time
Cabinet (Meetings)
We should first remember that council tax went up by 40 per cent in the final five years of the last Conservative Government and that, under the current Executive, the increases have been half those that took place under the Conservatives. We should remember the First Minister's remarks on that as well.
On local income tax—if I may emphasise this with the forbearance of my Labour colleagues—the last thing the Liberal Democrats want is the centralised capping with questionable legal powers that the SNP is talking about. It would take hundreds of millions of pounds away from local councils—and education, children's services, social work and, indeed, action to tackle the problem of drugs. We take a different view from the SNP. Our policy is clear and on the record.
On local income tax—if I may emphasise this with the forbearance of my Labour colleagues—the last thing the Liberal Democrats want is the centralised capping with questionable legal powers that the SNP is talking about. It would take hundreds of millions of pounds away from local councils—and education, children's services, social work and, indeed, action to tackle the problem of drugs. We take a different view from the SNP. Our policy is clear and on the record.
In the same item of business
2. Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con):
Con
I extend our best wishes to the First Minister and hope that a speedy recovery awaits him.To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next...
The Deputy First Minister and Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning (Nicol Stephen):
LD
As always, the next meeting of the Cabinet will discuss issues of importance to Scotland.
Miss Goldie:
Con
During last week's First Minister's question time, the First Minister derided the concept of a local income tax. He was right to do so, on the basis that a l...
Nicol Stephen:
LD
We should first remember that council tax went up by 40 per cent in the final five years of the last Conservative Government and that, under the current Exec...
Miss Goldie:
Con
What a revealing answer. If I did not know any better, I would say that there might be an element of unseasonal discord between the Deputy First Minister and...
Nicol Stephen:
LD
I completely agree that there should not be overreliance on methadone or a single approach to drugs policy in Scotland, but there never has been. I have alre...
Miss Goldie:
Con
I am pleased to witness an uncharacteristic departure from taciturnity on the part of the Deputy First Minister, and I welcome his words in so far as they sa...
Nicol Stephen:
LD
There have been some increases, but there have been some improvements as well. It is important to say that, in tackling the problem, the Executive is not in ...
The Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
NPA
I will take two supplementaries.
Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind):
Ind
In the light of the letter from the Deputy Minister for Finance, Public Service Reform and Parliamentary Business to the Local Government and Transport Commi...
Nicol Stephen:
LD
It is important to emphasise that the main focus of the Prostitution (Public Places) (Scotland) Bill is to tackle kerb crawling. The Executive believes that ...
Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP):
SNP
The Deputy First Minister will be aware that fishing communities consider the new days-at-sea restrictions that were imposed at the fishing negotiations this...
Nicol Stephen:
LD
The issue is important. I emphasise that Ross Finnie secured the best outcome that was possible for Scotland at those difficult talks.The outcome on quotas i...
Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab):
Lab
Will the Deputy First Minister agree that securing an increase of 10 per cent in the west-coast prawn quota is to be warmly welcomed? That is over and above ...
Nicol Stephen:
LD
I agree. Significant improvements in quotas have resulted from the talks. However, I do not wish to understate the impact of the days-at-sea changes. I empha...