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Showing 60 of 2,354,908 contributions. Latest 30 days: 0. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 25 Mar 2026.
Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): Lab Committee
11 Jun 2002
Items in Private
The suggestion is that we take three items in private. I am happy to discuss in public the scope of what we will do on the Title Conditions (Scotland) Bill and the inquiry into the alternatives to custody. I do not feel strongly about that one way or the other. I think that de...
The Convener: Lab Committee
06 Mar 2007
Annual Report
Agenda item 2, which is the only other item that we will take in public, is consideration of our draft annual report. Members will see from the paper that the clerks have provided that the draft report is formulaic, short and factual. I have been told that it cannot be more th...
Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab) Lab Chamber
01 Jul 2010
Budget Strategy Phase 2011-12
Just over three years ago, on the day that he took office, the First Minister told the Parliament: “The days of Scottish Government imposing its will on the Parliament are behind us”.—Official Report, 16 May 2007; c 25.The amendment invites the Government to live up to those w...
Ms Alexander Lab Committee
08 Dec 2010
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2011-12
I will follow up on the matter, because it would be helpful for the committee to be clear. On the evidence that we have from the level 4 information that you provided, the budgeted figure that we have for the energy line from last year’s draft budget does not include WATES or ...
Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): Lab Committee
27 Jan 2004
Scottish Parliament Building Project
I propose an amendment to your proposal, convener. It is important that we do not lose the trail of issues in the process—Ted Brocklebank referred to the elapsing of time in that regard—and it would be useful if the clerks could draft two letters. One letter could go to the SP...
The Convener (Ms Wendy Alexander): Lab Committee
23 Jan 2007
Decision on Taking Business in Private
I welcome the press and public to this morning's Finance Committee meeting. As usual, I invite everyone to turn off their pagers, mobile phones and BlackBerrys. Apologies have been received from Dr Elaine Murray and Gordon Jackson.The first item on our agenda is to seek the co...
The Convener: Lab Committee
20 Feb 2007
Subordinate Legislation
Agenda items 2 and 3 are on subordinate legislation. The committee does not often have to consider subordinate legislation, although we do it annually in relation to the spring budget revision. I welcome to the committee George Lyon, the Deputy Minister for Finance, Public Ser...
The Minister for Communities (Ms Wendy Alexander): Lab Committee
27 Oct 1999
Evidence
Thank you, Trish. Why do I have the feeling that we are not the centre of parliamentary action this morning? Laughter. I will take a few moments to recap where the Executive is on the local government agenda. Frank McAveety wrote to you on 4 October, setting out the Executive'...
The Minister for Communities (Ms Wendy Alexander): Lab Chamber
27 Apr 2000
Ethical Standards in Public Life etc (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
I am delighted to have this opportunity to open today's debate on the general principles of the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc (Scotland) Bill. In July, Donald Dewar announced the Executive's intention to introduce this legislation. Since then, much work has been done: a...
Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): Lab Chamber
24 Jun 2004
Budget Process 2005-06
Oh dear—how will I get it all in in four minutes? I will stick to one substantive point and, hopefully, the chamber will indulge me in that.Like Elaine Murray, I want to speak as a critical friend of the Executive. Like the Finance Committee, I applaud the work that has been d...
Ms Alexander Lab Committee
08 Dec 2010
“Low Carbon Scotland: The Draft Report on Proposals and Policies”
In the draft RPP, there is, quite reasonably, a reliance on a high level of uptake of home energy efficiency measures. What assumptions have been made about the future take-up of schemes such as the home insulation scheme and the energy assistance package? Are the levels of ta...
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
29 Oct 2008
Export Promotion, International Trade and Inward Investment (Public Policy Framework)
I will suggest two points that might be included in the final report, and then I will make an observation about how the committee might take the issue forward.First, I have a question: what is left for us to do? This is an impressive and helpful piece of analytical work that m...
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
14 Jan 2009
National Planning Framework
No, no, not for our draft report—I mean retrospectively. We want to keep a watching brief at this final stage.
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
09 Sep 2009
Work Programme
The one other area would simply be to reflect on what we were told last year. That applies to budget scrutiny and also the Council of Economic Advisers. I am keen to build some continuity into the scrutiny when we get to year 3 of a parliamentary session, so we should examine ...
Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): Lab Committee
07 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
VisitScotland has helpfully provided a 2008 tourism summary, which contains information that the committee asked for in the recommendations that arose from its tourism inquiry. The regular reports from VisitScotland will be helpful in placing in a longer-term perspective the d...
Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
Convener, I will forgo my opportunity to question HIE and spend a little more time on Scottish Enterprise, given the importance of the issues that are being considered. I say that to allow other committee members a full opportunity to contribute.Given that this meeting provide...
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
You cannot comment for them, but I will simply say that when Scotland faces its deepest downturn for 60 years and this is the only occasion for the organisation to have direct input into the budget process, the choice of priorities is strange. I spend much time answering quest...
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
For all three?
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
As the chief financial officer knows, issues that predate his tenure arose with the financial management at Scottish Enterprise. In that context, is he proud of a budget submission that provides absolutely no trend data whatever from spending last year and absolutely no reconc...
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
Saying what your spend under six budget heads was last year and is projected to be next year is not particularly granular. That is an entirely routine question for any director of finance in any organisation, so I will repeat it. Your submission outlines for the forthcoming ye...
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
I am not asking for changes to this year's figures; I am asking, from the indicative figures that you have given us for next year, what your spend was on those areas last year. You do not need to go back to the board to find out what you spent on them last year.
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
Thank you. That was very helpful. Can you confirm one other, even more high-level figure? Has the total budget of Scottish Enterprise reduced—albeit because of the change of functions—by 33 per cent in real terms since 2007?
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
I am simply asking whether you dissent from the assertion that there has been a real-terms cut in the Scottish Enterprise budget of 33 per cent since 2007. Is that a figure that you recognise as financial director?
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
It is clear, as recent budgets in Scotland have shown, that the budget is a process of negotiation. Has the executive team—the board—made any recommendations so far to the Scottish Government to seek a different budget? Does it intend to do so?
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
It would be helpful if you could inform the board that the Parliament would welcome some indication of its view on whether a £74 million reduction in grant in aid or a 17 per cent cut in capital spending across the board in Scotland are the right budget directions as we approa...
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
Indeed.
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
I take that as a sign of willingness to provide trend data in the future. It would be helpful if, as financial director of Scottish Enterprise, you simply undertook to do that.
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
By how much has the head count in Scottish Enterprise fallen in recent years? How many functions have been removed over the past couple of years?
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
The organisation has had a budget cut of a third and a head count reduction of a third, the skills function has been removed and the finance director has spoken of tough decisions and bearing down on running costs. If the budget is down by 30 per cent, staff numbers are down b...
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
I have no further questions.
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
I ask the finance director whether he was present when we considered the budget last year.
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
I ask him whether, in preparing for today, he had the opportunity to look at the submission that Scottish Enterprise made a year ago.
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
He will therefore understand why we find it troubling that he told a committee member today that he did not recognise the two headline spending figures for the organisation for which he is the financial director.We are not talking about detail; we are talking about headline sp...
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
When will the saltire prize be awarded? The Government has made public commitments on that, but perhaps you will clarify them.
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
Does that still stand? Is the money allocated for that year?
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
Is that £10 million ring fenced for that purpose?
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
The cabinet secretary stated that there is a 45 per cent increase in real terms in the renewable energy budget. In the level 4 information that the chief economic adviser helpfully provided, under the category of renewable energy, there are electricity statutory consents, elec...
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
Is the renewable energy line an increase or a decrease on this year's budget?
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
It is a cut in real terms.
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
But the renewable energy line—
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
I just ask, for a third time, about the renewable energy line.
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
Let me clarify the question that I asked for the third time. I am asking about the renewable energy line within the renewable energy subheading, so not including electricity statutory consents, electricity statutory consents income or the saltire prize.
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
How will it be available in 2010-11, when we have just heard that it is ring fenced for being allocated in the year 2013-14?
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
By what percentage is the Scottish budget being cut next year?
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
Thank you, that is helpful. Why, in the context of a decline of less than 1 per cent, has your response been to cut the capital budget in Scotland by 17 per cent?
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
It is your choice to move money into capital if you wish, is it not? I am seeking an explanation of why, with a reduction in the budget of less than 1 per cent, you have chosen to reduce the capital budget in Scotland by 17 per cent.
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
People are looking for an explanation from the cabinet secretary as to why, in the context of a reduction of less than 1 per cent, allowing for accelerated capital spend, he has chosen to reduce housing and regeneration capital spend by more than 47 per cent in real terms next...
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
Let me press the cabinet secretary on his total budget. If, as we have heard, that budget is declining by less than 1 per cent, can he explain why in real terms the water quality and regeneration budgets are being cut by 70 per cent, other transport agency programmes by 30 per...
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
With respect, I point out that, notwithstanding the repayment of capital, your budget for next year is still less than 1 per cent less than this year's budget. Cabinet secretary, this is your chance to tell the nation and the committee why you have chosen to cut those budgets ...
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
I will try once more to encourage the cabinet secretary to dwell on the choices that he has made at his own hand. As he knows, he has £35 billion of public expenditure. I will set him a challenge.Cabinet secretary, you have provided budget figures at levels 1, 2, 3 and 4. At a...
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
You could write to me.
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
One way to accelerate capital expenditure in Scotland might be to have a procurement method in the market that works. Has a single bank signed up to the Scottish Futures Trust yet? If not, when do you expect that to happen?
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
28 Oct 2009
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11
That was not an answer to the question whether any bank has signed up to the SFT.
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
13 Jan 2010
Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill
I share the puzzlement of the convener and minister about why this LCM is before us.I should declare an interest as a former special adviser to Donald Dewar, as I wish to ask a question on special advisers. Buried in the small print is the fact that one consequence of agreeing...
Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): Lab Committee
03 Sep 2003
Draft Education<br />(Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill
Elaine Murray covered my point, so I will pass.
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
03 Sep 2003
Draft Education<br />(Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill
The Executive makes the point that there is no obligation for the financial memorandum to be upgraded as we go along. I do not want to trespass on the remit of the Audit Committee, but that seems to be a terrible structural weakness. We should at least tell the Audit Committee...
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
03 Sep 2003
Draft Education<br />(Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill
I agree. The answer is not to legislate for something that is about processes. The temptation in committees, because we are responsible for legislation, is to try to legislate for what are essentially good practice or standards. What we are really doing is encouraging the Exec...
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
03 Sep 2003
Draft Education<br />(Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill
There are two issues. First, we could write to the Audit Committee to say that the point about an obligation to update the financial memorandum as amendments are agreed to is pertinent. We realise that that is the Audit Committee's area, but it is very important to us and will...
Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): Lab Committee
10 Sep 2003
Draft Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill
It is difficult to design legislation in order to attain a certain quality of experience, which is what we are struggling with in this instance. I do not come to this area as an expert and I would appreciate some guidance. The anxieties of parents seem to fall into two categor...
Ms Alexander: Lab Committee
10 Sep 2003
Draft Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill
One of the drivers of the bill was the need to address parents' and children's anxieties about the system's accessibility, responsiveness and inclusiveness. We have referred to some of the challenges. Clearly, the objective is conflict avoidance, but it is proposed that the me...
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Committee

Justice 1 Committee, 11 Jun 2002

11 Jun 2002 · S1 · Justice 1 Committee
Item of business
Items in Private
Alexander, Ms Wendy Lab Paisley North Watch on SPTV
The suggestion is that we take three items in private. I am happy to discuss in public the scope of what we will do on the Title Conditions (Scotland) Bill and the inquiry into the alternatives to custody. I do not feel strongly about that one way or the other. I think that determination of scope is a matter of public interest.Clearly, the draft report for the prison estates review will ultimately be published as the committee's collective view. The danger of discussing the draft report in public is that the draft report will just become the property of the clerks because members will be conscious all the time of what they are saying. If we are seeking to reach consensus, then there is merit in that discussion, on a document that will be public, taking place in private so that we do not get committees being divided. If you have the debate on the draft report in public, then it becomes known, for example, who is for which amendment. That makes it difficult to maintain the unity of committees.As a former member of the Executive, I confirm that the reports that caused one the most angst were those that were unanimously endorsed by a committee, because those reports carried the whole force of Parliament. If we discuss the draft report issue in public, we might inadvertently undermine our ability to present a unified face when the report is published.

In the same item of business

The Convener: SNP
I ask whether members agree to consider the remit of our inquiry into alternatives to custody, forward planning for the Title Conditions (Scotland) Bill and ...
Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): LD
The Procedures Committee has been examining people's views on how well committees are doing and has found that the most common complaint is about committees ...
The Convener: SNP
Which of the three items are you referring to, Donald? Do you mean all three?
Donald Gorrie: LD
I mean all three. There is an argument about whether draft reports should be discussed in private or in public. Not everyone shares my views, but I propose t...
The Convener: SNP
That is fine. Thank you.
Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): Lab
The suggestion is that we take three items in private. I am happy to discuss in public the scope of what we will do on the Title Conditions (Scotland) Bill a...
The Convener: SNP
Does anyone else have a comment?
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): Con
Much of the discussion of the drafting of the report will be about how best matters should be expressed and whether a form of words can be found. That kind o...
Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): Lab
I agree with what Wendy Alexander said about the need to discuss the Title Conditions (Scotland) Bill and the remit of the inquiry into alternatives to custo...
The Convener: SNP
I concur. The position of the draft report stands out from that of the other items. We would have the reporting of the draft and that might change the nature...
Donald Gorrie: LD
No, I will settle for that. It is a marginal point as to whether, if we discuss whether to talk to Professor Bloggs or Mr McTavish about the Title Conditions...
The Convener: SNP
That is noted. Does the committee agree to deal with forward planning for the Title Conditions (Scotland) Bill and the draft report on the prison estates rev...
Members indicated agreement.