Hansard

Iain Gray: Lab Chamber

20 Nov 2008

First Minister's Question Time · Engagements

The problem is that due process cannot be based on a report that is so fundamentally flawed. Michelle Stewart's mother-in-law died in the C diff outbreak, and here is why she thinks that a public inquiry is so important:"We're just skimming the surface … We've not learned enou...

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab) Lab Chamber

28 May 2015

Historical Child Abuse

I thank the cabinet secretary for her statement and for early sight of it. We sincerely welcome today’s statement. We very much want the inquiry to succeed, and we want to work with the cabinet secretary to ensure that that happens. It must be a bright and unfettered light th...

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab) Lab Chamber

17 Nov 2016

Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry

I, too, thank the cabinet secretary for early sight of his statement. The cabinet secretary is right to describe the inquiry as a step to right the “wrongs perpetrated” against “some of our most vulnerable children.” He knows well my view that, to do that, it must command t...

The Deputy Minister for Justice (Iain Gray): Lab Committee

19 Jun 2001

Legal Aid Inquiry

I am glad to be here this afternoon to answer the committee's questions. I understand that you may raise quite wide-ranging issues on the operation of the legal aid system. As I might not be able to answer every one of them in detail this afternoon, I will be happy to follow u...

The Deputy Minister for Community Care (Iain Gray): Lab Chamber

06 Apr 2000

Suicide

I am grateful to Mr Gibson for raising this difficult and serious issue. It is not the first time that he has raised the matter in the chamber, and I am sure that it will not be the last. I am glad that many MSPs have supported the motion and have spoken in this evening's deba...

Iain Gray: Lab Chamber

20 Nov 2008

First Minister's Question Time · Engagements

Perhaps this is a game that we can play another day—I want to ask questions about Clostridium difficile. The outbreak of C difficile at the Vale of Leven hospital was the worst ever in the United Kingdom—18 people lost their lives. Yesterday, world-renowned epidemiologist Hugh...

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab) Lab Chamber

07 Sep 2016

Programme for Government 2016-17

Thank you, Presiding Officer. For a set-piece debate, this has been a curiously desultory affair really, especially among the Government’s back benchers. Perhaps it is trepidation. Maybe they looked back to the first programme of the previous Government in 2011. The First Min...

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab) Lab Chamber

25 Apr 2019

Advance Redress Payments

I, too, thank the cabinet secretary for advance sight of his statement. The cabinet secretary knows that we have encouraged him to act quickly to create an advance payment scheme for survivors who are elderly or terminally ill. We welcome the opening of such a scheme and the...

The Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning (Iain Gray): Lab Committee

05 Feb 2003

New Economy

Sue Kearns and Robin Naysmith are from the enterprise and lifelong learning department. I appreciate the opportunity to give an update on progress since the committee's original inquiry on the impact of the new economy, which was carried out in 2000 and 2001.There has been sub...

The Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning (Iain Gray): Lab Committee

11 Feb 2003

Employment and Corporate Social Responsibility Inquiry

Thank you for inviting me to speak to the committee.We welcome the committee's inquiry into what is an important issue. We will work constructively with the committee in the preparation of its report and beyond. Employment policy is a reserved matter, but we recognise the impo...

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

19 Jun 2001

Legal Aid Inquiry

I have made the point on a number of occasions that, although the legal aid budget is not capped, the expenditure in it has to be found in the first instance from within the justice department. The position that Jim Wallace was trying to express was that the Executive is very ...

The Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning (Iain Gray): Lab Committee

03 Sep 2002

Integrated Rural Development

I thank the committee for the invitation to give evidence. I think that the invitation was made some time ago, and I am sorry that, because of the practicalities, it has not been possible to arrange this meeting earlier. However, I am very pleased to be here now.At this point,...

Iain Gray: Lab Chamber

28 Oct 1999

Question Time · Residential Homes

I thank Mr Mundell for pointing out why a section 211 inquiry would not be appropriate at the moment. The controller of audit is already investigating the decision-making process that resulted in the externalisation. Several other people, including the local government ombudsm...

Iain Gray: Lab Chamber

24 May 2001

Justice

That matter has been raised before. It is unacceptable that the police cannot be contacted by e-mail. That is why we are investing in and rolling out the Scottish police management information network, which will ensure that every police officer has an e-mail address.Christine...

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab) Lab Chamber

04 Sep 2013

Helicopter Incident

I thank the cabinet secretary for his statement and for early sight of it. I add our condolences to those who lost loved ones in the accident and our thanks to those who were involved in the rescue. We agree with the cabinet secretary that it is vital to restore confidence in...

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab) Lab Chamber

17 Dec 2014

Historical Child Abuse

I thank the cabinet secretary for her statement and for having early sight of it. It is a welcome statement and a welcome decision. In truth, it should have happened sooner. I understand the cabinet secretary’s points about the care and lack of haste required to come to a view...

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab) Lab Chamber

30 Jun 2016

First Minister’s Question Time · Prime Minister (Meetings)

The credibility of the Scottish child abuse inquiry is hanging by a thread. Professor Lamb, one of three panel members, has resigned, citing Scottish Government interference, which is compromising the inquiry’s independence. We all owe survivors of abuse justice and redress. W...

Iain Gray Lab Chamber

07 Sep 2016

Programme for Government 2016-17

I believe in all sincerity that Mr Swinney has satisfied himself of the independence of the inquiry. However, it is of course the confidence of the survivors that we need to regain. That is the important thing here. I say to Mr Swinney again, as I have said to him before priva...

Iain Gray Lab Committee

22 May 2019

Subject Choices Inquiry

Dr Brown, I was delighted to hear you talking about the importance and value of lower-level qualifications. In my view, far too often in this debate we are told that young people who get five highers are still getting five highers and all is well with the world. That is not go...

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab) Lab Committee

12 Jun 2019

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Inquiry

In the inquiry, we have heard a lot of examples of good practice, good initiatives and impressive work that is under way, but that seems to be driven largely by the interests and passion of particular people in particular places. Indeed, a lot of our witnesses have been those ...

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab) Lab Chamber

17 Dec 2020

Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Today has been a long time coming: too long in many ways. It is the latest, and perhaps last, link in a chain of recognition, regret and now, hopefully, redress—as far as that is possible. We are once again called on to face up to and acknowledge our collective guilt regardin...

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

05 Feb 2003

New Economy

Some of the broader aspects of Marilyn Livingstone's questions pre-empt the lifelong learning strategy. The questions also refer back to much of the evidence that the committee took at the time of its inquiry into lifelong learning. Marilyn Livingstone's final point about pari...

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

11 Feb 2003

Employment and Corporate Social Responsibility Inquiry

I was not aware of that, but I will tell everyone about it.

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

11 Feb 2003

Employment and Corporate Social Responsibility Inquiry

The agreement to the strategy is among member states and Scotland is not a member state. As for the extent to which the national action plan reflects what is happening in Scotland, I am more than willing to speak to Whitehall to see whether the relevant section can be expanded...

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

11 Feb 2003

Employment and Corporate Social Responsibility Inquiry

The strategy certainly makes a contribution to them. However, I should point out that "A Smart, Successful Scotland" is our economic development strategy. The European employment strategy is far broader than that, and has informed the preparation of both "A Smart, Successful S...

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

11 Feb 2003

Employment and Corporate Social Responsibility Inquiry

To discuss—?

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

11 Feb 2003

Employment and Corporate Social Responsibility Inquiry

As opposed to feeding into it through Whitehall?

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

11 Feb 2003

Employment and Corporate Social Responsibility Inquiry

No. We make our key contribution through the national action plan. However, as I have said, we have to look in both directions and ensure that local partners are aware of the strategy and the strength that it can give to any local action. One of the key ways in which we do so ...

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

11 Feb 2003

Employment and Corporate Social Responsibility Inquiry

The key to that question is the extent to which some of the key partners, including UK partners, are prepared to be flexible in responding to and supporting suggestions or plans that are specific to the Scottish case. As far as the employment strategy is concerned, our experie...

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

11 Feb 2003

Employment and Corporate Social Responsibility Inquiry

Yes, we would. Many such social partners are either Scottish partners of similar organisations in other parts of the UK, or the Scottish sections of UK-wide bodies. We would encourage them to feed in at all levels the kind of experiences to which you referred.

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

11 Feb 2003

Employment and Corporate Social Responsibility Inquiry

I think that the bulk of the on-going work is done through contact between officials. I used the example of yesterday's meeting to demonstrate that ministerial contact backed up contact between officials. However, I will ask Kevin Doran to say something about that because he w...

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

11 Feb 2003

Employment and Corporate Social Responsibility Inquiry

To answer the second part of the question first, it seems to me that scope for improvement could come from lengthier reflection on the distinctive approaches that we might take in Scotland—although that might be limited by the space that we have available. However, I might be ...

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

11 Feb 2003

Employment and Corporate Social Responsibility Inquiry

Equal pay reviews or audits would have to be compulsory if they were to be fully effective. However, they are reserved matters. Therefore Westminster would have to pursue such a policy. We are working, particularly through the close the gap campaign, to make it easier for will...

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

11 Feb 2003

Employment and Corporate Social Responsibility Inquiry

We are doing our equal pay audit not only because it is the right thing to do but with a view to showing leadership. We will tell other employers that we have done that and encourage them to follow our lead. We will press particularly hard on the public sector, partly because ...

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

11 Feb 2003

Employment and Corporate Social Responsibility Inquiry

We intend to do that in co-operation and co-ordination with the DWP, which is also concerned about those levels of inactivity. It has a project called pathways to work, which is aimed specifically at those who are in the situation that you describe and would like to move back ...

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

11 Feb 2003

Employment and Corporate Social Responsibility Inquiry

Two key projects are under way. One has been under way for some time and one for not quite so long. I will also mention a third.The key instrument is the new deal for the over-50s. That is extremely important. With our demographic trends, it would be foolish not to consider it...

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

11 Feb 2003

Employment and Corporate Social Responsibility Inquiry

Correct.

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

11 Feb 2003

Employment and Corporate Social Responsibility Inquiry

Not only is it the case that the statistic that Mr Campbell quotes is correct, but it is also the case that Futureskills Scotland, in the biggest labour market survey that has been undertaken in Scotland, identified skills gaps as opposed to skills shortages as being a much la...

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

11 Feb 2003

Employment and Corporate Social Responsibility Inquiry

Sure.

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

11 Feb 2003

Employment and Corporate Social Responsibility Inquiry

In answer to the latter question, we expect employers to be transparent in their dealings with their work force. In the case of Boots, I made it clear last week that I was extremely disappointed that the decision about the review emerged so late in the day. Although it might h...

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

11 Feb 2003

Employment and Corporate Social Responsibility Inquiry

The question of the scope of the contribution might just come down to the lack of available space in the national action plan. As I have said, we are willing to make that point and look for more space, although the Commission limits the available space.I would have to know wha...

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

06 Feb 2001

Subordinate Legislation

Mr Gallie makes the important point that this committee is conducting an inquiry into legal aid. That might be a better forum for an examination of the extent of availability of legal aid than today's discussion. It is worth pointing out that someone who uses the appeals proce...

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

19 Jun 2001

Legal Aid Inquiry

In general terms, the system is working towards delivering those objectives. However, in my opening remarks, I said that anyone who examines the system will certainly agree that there are areas where we could improve its efficiency, effectiveness and fairness.

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

19 Jun 2001

Legal Aid Inquiry

That is a possible explanation of the difference, but there are others, some of which the committee has explored in previous evidence-taking sessions, particularly with SLAB. For example, there has been a change in the nature of litigation over the period you mentioned. There ...

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

19 Jun 2001

Legal Aid Inquiry

That might explain why some of the cases are not pursued once the offer is made, but once again, there might be other explanations or reasons why people think better of pursuing their initial action. The required contribution being greater than expected is one—but not the only...

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

19 Jun 2001

Legal Aid Inquiry

The underlying problem is that the mechanisms by which social security benefits are taken into account for the purposes of assessing eligibility for legal aid are almost inevitably quite complex because the benefits system itself is quite complex. Secondly—and more avoidably—t...

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

19 Jun 2001

Legal Aid Inquiry

That would be unfortunate. Advice and assistance is an important and fundamental part of legal aid. The objective of legal aid is to provide access to justice. Advice and assistance helps deliver that objective because it provides access very quickly. The assessment of benefit...

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

19 Jun 2001

Legal Aid Inquiry

The rationale concerns the level of legal advice that might reasonably be expected to be available for a type of case. Certainly, if there was an instance where advice and assistance was not delivering the level of assistance that the client required, and legal assistance was ...

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

19 Jun 2001

Legal Aid Inquiry

There may be. I certainly agree that the regulations are extremely complex, although to a degree that is a reflection of the complexity of the legal system. There are all sorts of reasons for that—some good, some bad. New areas of law are being developed all the time and the s...

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

19 Jun 2001

Legal Aid Inquiry

That is well off your script.

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

19 Jun 2001

Legal Aid Inquiry

I am aware of this issue. In my constituency, the main reason for the existence of a number of community councils is to engage in the planning process. Their members live in parts of Edinburgh where the green belt is under constant pressure from developers. On occasion, they h...

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

19 Jun 2001

Legal Aid Inquiry

That takes us back to the convener's initial question. As we said, the legal aid budget is not capped—it is demand-led—so the level of civil and legal aid costs to some extent is a function of applications and eligibility. I do not know if the 60:40 split that you describe rep...

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

19 Jun 2001

Legal Aid Inquiry

The example that we discussed was the working families tax credit, which is a passporting benefit that extended eligibility. I have to ask you to provide an example of what you mean.

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

19 Jun 2001

Legal Aid Inquiry

I was going to say that your question confuses two different things, but that would be unfair. Your question counterpoises two different things. If the legal aid budget was capped, there would be a limit above which it could not go. Presumably, if that ceiling was reached, no ...

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

19 Jun 2001

Legal Aid Inquiry

We can learn from the experience in England and Wales. The Legal Services Commission has taken a simpler and different approach from that which is taken in Scotland, as it has gone down the road of franchising to ensure that services and outlets are in place for providing the ...

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

19 Jun 2001

Legal Aid Inquiry

An advantage that the commission has, which our system does not have at the moment, is that it is able to be proactive in ensuring that provision is made available on the ground, either in a geographical area where it feels that it is lacking or in a specialist area where it i...

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

19 Jun 2001

Legal Aid Inquiry

That is a hypothetical question. Ministers have responsibility for setting the budget and for deciding such matters as eligibility criteria, although they should take account of advice from the board or the commission.

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

19 Jun 2001

Legal Aid Inquiry

We expect to receive that report in October, and we will need to consider our response to it very quickly. There is a great deal of interest in its work on the ground, which may read across into other work that is being undertaken in the Executive—for example, consideration of...

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

19 Jun 2001

Legal Aid Inquiry

Some of my earlier remarks implied that, whatever we do, another budget would have to be raided, although it might be a hypothetical budget for something that was not already in place. If we make changes to the system—even if those changes are not the radical ones that we are ...

Iain Gray: Lab Committee

19 Jun 2001

Legal Aid Inquiry

I expect the CLS working group to have something to say about eligibility, as well as about different methods of providing access to justice. There could be any amount of debate about where the eligibility criteria lie, but it is difficult for me to imagine our being able to c...