Chamber
Plenary, 22 Mar 2007
22 Mar 2007 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Scotland in the United Kingdom
Yes, with three jobs.
This debate illustrates the real choices before the Scottish people: tax and turmoil or prosperity and progress; improving education or confronting the UK Government; beating crime or negotiating break-up with the rest of the UK; creating the costs of separate regimes on pensions, regulation, defence and the rest or focusing on how to improve our children's health and keeping our communities thriving.
I have seen the changes taking place in my constituency in the east end of Glasgow. I have seen the educational opportunities that exist now that people never had before. We have some of the highest-performing schools in the east end of Glasgow. We have quality and choice in housing, which had been denied to people for too long. Businesses are flourishing, there are job opportunities and levels of poverty have been slashed, and the area is connected to a thriving city and a prosperous country. That is Scotland's future—partnership with the United Kingdom, not the costs and risks of independence. We will take Scotland forward as a thriving and prosperous country.
I move,
That the Parliament believes that the United Kingdom is a mutually beneficial relationship for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England; notes that devolution "is a process, not an event"; notes the additional powers that have been devolved to the Scottish Parliament since 1999; notes that the majority of people in Scotland oppose separation from the rest of the UK; believes that such a course would result in either cuts in vital public services or massive increases in taxation; believes that Scotland should retain the benefits of being part of the UK; and notes the respective positions of the Labour and the Liberal Democrat parties on the powers of the Parliament.
This debate illustrates the real choices before the Scottish people: tax and turmoil or prosperity and progress; improving education or confronting the UK Government; beating crime or negotiating break-up with the rest of the UK; creating the costs of separate regimes on pensions, regulation, defence and the rest or focusing on how to improve our children's health and keeping our communities thriving.
I have seen the changes taking place in my constituency in the east end of Glasgow. I have seen the educational opportunities that exist now that people never had before. We have some of the highest-performing schools in the east end of Glasgow. We have quality and choice in housing, which had been denied to people for too long. Businesses are flourishing, there are job opportunities and levels of poverty have been slashed, and the area is connected to a thriving city and a prosperous country. That is Scotland's future—partnership with the United Kingdom, not the costs and risks of independence. We will take Scotland forward as a thriving and prosperous country.
I move,
That the Parliament believes that the United Kingdom is a mutually beneficial relationship for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England; notes that devolution "is a process, not an event"; notes the additional powers that have been devolved to the Scottish Parliament since 1999; notes that the majority of people in Scotland oppose separation from the rest of the UK; believes that such a course would result in either cuts in vital public services or massive increases in taxation; believes that Scotland should retain the benefits of being part of the UK; and notes the respective positions of the Labour and the Liberal Democrat parties on the powers of the Parliament.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
NPA
Good morning. Our first item of business is a debate on motion S2M-5779, in the name of Margaret Curran, on Scotland in the United Kingdom.
The Minister for Parliamentary Business (Ms Margaret Curran):
Lab
I am delighted to be back in the chamber to open this morning's important debate. On the eve of the election, let us address the fundamental question that wi...
Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP):
SNP
Can the Executive get its motion right?
Ms Curran:
Lab
From a sedentary position, Mr Swinney is trying to provoke me.
Mr Swinney:
SNP
It has worked so many times in the past.
Ms Curran:
Lab
I was about to say that that is not a difficult thing to do. However, although the SNP talks about the words of the motion, Labour members are happier talkin...
Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP):
SNP
Can the member clarify for the chamber which version of the motion she will discuss?
Ms Curran:
Lab
We will focus on the substantial issues that face the Scottish electorate, not the words of a motion. It is clear that the road to separation will be costly,...
Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Will the minister take an intervention?
Ms Curran:
Lab
No. Scotland's separatists argue that our partnership in the United Kingdom has failed Scotland; apparently, we have been held back and undermined for many y...
Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con):
Con
I want to support the minister today, but I am not sure that her going through the Executive's record is the best way of getting me to do that. Where do her ...
Ms Curran:
Lab
Phil Gallie's timing is perfect. I was about to say that we have tackled the tough issues—in the face of much resistance. We recognised, as the Tories did no...
Mr Swinney:
SNP
Will the minister give an accurate statement to the Parliament by acknowledging that the SNP's commitment is to abolishing the despised council tax, which ha...
Ms Curran:
Lab
Mr Swinney is easily provoked, too. I think that he is so animated because we have exposed the real consequences of SNP policy, which would mean not only a 3...
Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind):
Ind
Is the minister arguing that the SNP's economic policies would bring penury or that independence, if the Scots chose that, would impoverish us?
Ms Curran:
Lab
It is sad that the SNP never gave Margo MacDonald the opportunity to advocate her policy for independence. The policies of the SNP will be disastrous for Sco...
Christine May (Central Fife) (Lab):
Lab
Does the minister recognise that many of my constituents who receive pensions from Westminster are very worried about what might happen to those pensions und...
Ms Curran:
Lab
That is a very good point, and it was very well put. That is an example of exactly the kind of issue and detail that we need to think through. This is the ke...
Alex Neil:
SNP
Where is Jack?
Ms Curran:
Lab
I have one fundamental question: where is Alex? I am not sure why the Scottish Parliament was not good enough for Alex Salmond before, and I am not sure why ...
The Minister for Education and Young People (Hugh Henry):
Lab
With three jobs.
Ms Curran:
Lab
Yes, with three jobs.This debate illustrates the real choices before the Scottish people: tax and turmoil or prosperity and progress; improving education or ...
Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I will move the only amendment in my name. Behind this debate is the question whether a constitutional arrangement devised three centuries ago, in questionab...
Bristow Muldoon (Livingston) (Lab):
Lab
Will the member give way?
Alasdair Morgan:
SNP
It is a bit early in my speech. I hope that I have said something controversial already.
Bristow Muldoon:
Lab
Does Mr Morgan not recognise that Scotland has a new constitutional settlement that is only 10 years old, not 300 years old? Is it not time to allow that con...
Alasdair Morgan:
SNP
That is one of the questions that I will address in my speech. It is interesting that Bristow Muldoon's coalition partners do not seem to agree with him on t...
The Minister for Health and Community Care (Mr Andy Kerr) rose—
Lab
Alasdair Morgan:
SNP
I am glad to give way on that point.
Mr Kerr:
Lab
The member does not focus on the substance. Geoff Hoon pointed out that House of Commons library research says that if Scotland were independent, referendums...