Chamber
Plenary, 12 Dec 2007
12 Dec 2007 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
Health Strategy
I thank—or at least I think that I should thank—Margaret Curran for those questions. It is slightly depressing that although I have just published a wide-ranging programme to improve health, tackle health inequalities and enhance the quality of health care across Scotland, she can only complain about the format of the announcement. That shows a dreadful lack of vision.
Let me draw Margaret Curran's attention to and encourage her to read the Official Report of a debate on free personal care that I led in June this year. My colleague Shona Robison and I were roundly criticised by Andy Kerr and Lewis Macdonald for making announcements in the form of a debate rather than a statement. They said that it was only courteous to the Opposition that, when documents were published and announcements made, that was done in the form of a statement. I respectfully say to the Opposition that it really should make up its mind.
I will move on to some of Margaret Curran's other points. She talked about the level of health service funding. I am sure that I do not have to do this, but I remind members that we have received the tightest funding settlement since devolution from Her Majesty's Treasury. However, in the context of an overall budget increase next year of 0.5 per cent, the increase in the health budget is 4.1 per cent. That is a sign of the Government's commitment to improving health and health care in our country.
On tackling inequalities, I gently suggest to Margaret Curran that the next time that we turn up in the chamber—whether it is for a statement or a debate—she listens to what is said. I have just made a 25-minute statement, the vast bulk of which concentrated and was focused on the need for the Government to do more than the previous Government did to tackle the widening health inequalities in our country. I set out a range of actions that the Government will take in the next few years to tackle poverty and reduce the gap between the richest and the poorest in our society—something that our predecessors signally failed to do in eight long years in government.
I tell Margaret Curran that one sign of our commitment is that we recognise that although the health portfolio plays a leading role, tackling poverty and inequality is the responsibility of everyone in government and all my Cabinet colleagues see that as a priority.
I will briefly deal with other points that Margaret Curran made. We are progressing our commitment to introduce life begins checks, which we want to do by building on the keep well programme's success. In the spirit of consensus and constructive debate, I pay tribute to the previous Administration for introducing the keep well programme. We are determined to increase nursing and other health care support in our schools, where we can contribute significantly to tackling the problems that our youngest children face, which have an impact on their health later in life.
We intend to deliver all our manifesto commitments over the Parliament's four-year session. When we do so, that will deliver significant benefits for all the people of Scotland.
Let me draw Margaret Curran's attention to and encourage her to read the Official Report of a debate on free personal care that I led in June this year. My colleague Shona Robison and I were roundly criticised by Andy Kerr and Lewis Macdonald for making announcements in the form of a debate rather than a statement. They said that it was only courteous to the Opposition that, when documents were published and announcements made, that was done in the form of a statement. I respectfully say to the Opposition that it really should make up its mind.
I will move on to some of Margaret Curran's other points. She talked about the level of health service funding. I am sure that I do not have to do this, but I remind members that we have received the tightest funding settlement since devolution from Her Majesty's Treasury. However, in the context of an overall budget increase next year of 0.5 per cent, the increase in the health budget is 4.1 per cent. That is a sign of the Government's commitment to improving health and health care in our country.
On tackling inequalities, I gently suggest to Margaret Curran that the next time that we turn up in the chamber—whether it is for a statement or a debate—she listens to what is said. I have just made a 25-minute statement, the vast bulk of which concentrated and was focused on the need for the Government to do more than the previous Government did to tackle the widening health inequalities in our country. I set out a range of actions that the Government will take in the next few years to tackle poverty and reduce the gap between the richest and the poorest in our society—something that our predecessors signally failed to do in eight long years in government.
I tell Margaret Curran that one sign of our commitment is that we recognise that although the health portfolio plays a leading role, tackling poverty and inequality is the responsibility of everyone in government and all my Cabinet colleagues see that as a priority.
I will briefly deal with other points that Margaret Curran made. We are progressing our commitment to introduce life begins checks, which we want to do by building on the keep well programme's success. In the spirit of consensus and constructive debate, I pay tribute to the previous Administration for introducing the keep well programme. We are determined to increase nursing and other health care support in our schools, where we can contribute significantly to tackling the problems that our youngest children face, which have an impact on their health later in life.
We intend to deliver all our manifesto commitments over the Parliament's four-year session. When we do so, that will deliver significant benefits for all the people of Scotland.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alex Fergusson):
NPA
The next item of business is a statement by Nicola Sturgeon on the Scottish Government's health strategy. The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for...
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing (Nicola Sturgeon):
SNP
I am delighted to publish today our new action plan for health and well-being. "Better Health, Better Care" sets out a clear vision for the national health s...
Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab):
Lab
I thank the minister for an advance copy of her statement.I have one note of significant disappointment—although there are perhaps a few others—that minister...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
I thank—or at least I think that I should thank—Margaret Curran for those questions. It is slightly depressing that although I have just published a wide-ran...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
I, too, thank the cabinet secretary for the advance copies of her statement and the action plan. I put it on the record that the Scottish Conservatives ackno...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
I thank Mary Scanlon for her questions and for asking them positively. I accept that all members will want more time to read the action plan—on recent eviden...
Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD):
LD
I, too, thank the cabinet secretary for the advance copy of her statement and action plan. Like others who received them, I thought that the 3,328 words of t...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
Before I call the cabinet secretary to reply, I remind members that they may refer to her in many ways—as "cabinet secretary", as "minister" or as "Nicola St...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
That is better than how members sometimes refer to me outside the chamber—at least, it is better than how Margaret Curran sometimes refers to me.Ross Finnie ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Alasdair Morgan):
SNP
A large number of members have pressed their request-to-speak buttons, so questions should be brief and focused. I call Christine Grahame.
Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I do not know why that is always said just before I get up to ask a question, but there we are.Quite rightly, the cabinet secretary stressed the commitment t...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
I thank Christine Grahame for asking perhaps the most important question that could be asked about the action plan. She will recall that when the Cabinet Sec...
Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab):
Lab
The cabinet secretary has focused on making waiting times shorter for people to get into hospitals, but I have evidence of a sudden increase in patient waiti...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
I assure the member that this Government gives absolute priority to tackling delayed discharges. Indeed, we have spent a long time discussing the topic in th...
Helen Eadie:
Lab
Absolute nonsense.
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
Order.
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
That administration then set a budget to bring the overspend down to nil. That is the reality of what the new administration in Fife inherited—Interruption.
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
Order.
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
I know that the member might not like hearing the truth, but she might do well to listen. That is the reality of what the new administration inherited, and i...
Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP):
SNP
It is clear from the cabinet secretary's speech that the Scottish Government is looking for an NHS that is responsive to people's needs and available at the ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
Order.
Ian McKee:
SNP
What I would like to say—if I am allowed to—is that, as a former GP, I am interested in and agree entirely with the cabinet secretary's proposal to extend GP...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
I thank Ian McKee for those questions. I would have to come into the chamber wearing earmuffs in order not to hear the moans and groans of the Labour Opposit...
Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab):
Lab
The cabinet secretary's 25-minute statement to Parliament contained little more than we already knew, apart from new words for the principle—already accepted...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
There should be a question, Ms Craigie.
Cathie Craigie:
Lab
When will the Government initiate a debate on health? The SNP supported Bill Butler's member's bill on direct elections to NHS boards in the previous parliam...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
The member has spoken for long enough. Minister, will you answer, please?
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
Cathie Craigie is absolutely right that my party supported Bill Butler's bill on direct elections. Unfortunately, her party did not, which is why the bill fe...
Cathie Craigie:
Lab
No, you haven't.
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
Let me give her a few highlights of what we have done on health since the election in May.